ashleyd /

What I Ate Wednesday

Happy Wednesday friends! Today was a busy one as Bo and I were up bright and early finishing some projects and errands around the house before heading into our respective offices for the day. I’m so excited for my baby shower which is in Brooklyn this weekend but welcoming people into our home also means making as much progress on the nursery as possible and having a clean house.  After work I headed to XTend Barre Brooklyn for a challenging barre class. Even though I adjust a few of the moves, I find that by the middle of class I’m still shaking and sweating. I love how challenging and cardio intensive this barre studio is versus other barre classes. So now, here I am, blogging and eating dinner at 8:50 after a long day. My goal is to put this post up and then head into a bubble bath before reading in bed.

For tonight’s post, I thought it would be fun to share a What I Ate Wednesday since I actually have a picture of everything I ate today! Once upon a time, I used to share my meals on this blog almost daily but these days it’s a rare occurence. Since so many people have asked me what I’ve been eating during pregnancy, today’s post will help answer that question. If you guys like seeing my meals and food, let me know and I can definitely get back to sharing more often.

As I mentioned, this morning started off early with a 5:30 alarm. Bo and I sipped coffee while working on our projects around the house and I ate half a banana. When I arrived at the WeWork office at 8:30 I ate breakfast. Today’s breakfast was a bowl of Siggi’s Dairy plain yogurt, ground flax seed, blueberries, cinnamon and Purely Elizabeth granola enjoyed with a decaf skim latte since I’d already had my one cup of coffee at home earlier.

IMG_1868

Around 12:30 a bunch of us headed to Cava Grill, one of my favorite lunch spots in the Union Square area.  The restaurant celebrates Greek and Mediterranean food in a quick-order setting; perfect for those on-the-go lunches. I love that you can build the bowl from start to finish with lots of unique ingredients and flavor combinations.

image

This bowl kept me full until 5pm when I snacked on a Chocolate Coconut RX Bar and a lime LaCroix water while I finished up a few emails and meetings at the office. By the time XTend Barre ended at 7:30 my stomach was growling so much so that I grabbed an apple that I had in my bag and snacked on this while I ran stopped in Sephora and Trader Joe’s to grab a few things on my way home. Now it’s almost 9pm and I’m finally eating dinner.  The name of the game for tonight’s dinner was fast and easy.  I grabbed a large glass bowl and combined lots of leftovers (tomatoes, green beans, potatoes) along with some lettuce and vegetables I bought at Trader Joe’s before topping it with their packaged, cut chicken and my favorite dressing, Trader Joe’s Parmesan Ranch.

IMG_1888

I am definitely craving something sweet tonight so I think I’ll have small bowl of banana, half of banana and some chocolate chips before heading upstairs. I know that sounds like a random combination but right now it sounds delicious!

Have a great night!

Share Button
Follow:
ashleyd /

Virtual coffee Date – March 2017

latte

Have a seat friends and refill that cup of coffee or glass of wine, depending on the hour, as it is time for a virtual date. A lot has transpired since our last date together.  The past two months have been a whirlwind of travel that has left me feeling exhausted.  Today I’ll share with you a number of the things I shared with my fellow Brooks Run Happy Ambassadors and other friends when we’ve caught up recently. Make sure to read to the entire post as I have a fun giveaway at the bottom!

  • If we were sitting together today, I’d tell you that while I loved making memories in Las Vegas, the San Francisco Bay Area and Albequerque these past three weeks, I am so happy that I am done with travel that includes a time change. These past three trips have left me feeling exhausted and hungover for at least a few days following the flights which is a big difference from how I used to feel.
  • If we were sitting together today, I’d tell you that it’s amazing what sunlight can do for my overall well-being. Bo and I moved my office into our spare bedroom so I now work at a desk that is right in front of two large windows. It is so nice, even on cloudy days, to have light shining into my workspace. I wish this space had always been my office as I spent a year sitting in a dark room, only illuminated by a dim overhead light.
  • If we were sitting together today, I’d tell you that last week I started to experience some discomfort in my pelvic floor area. While I’ve been lucky to have a wonderful pregnancy thus far, this discomfort definitely scared me a bit. While I know it may be nothing, I’m thankful that my friend Abby Bales is actually a Pelvic Floor Specialist! I have an appontment with her on Friday to figure out what’s going on down there and will keep you guys posted. Until then, I’m focusing on low impact workouts and have switched my treadmill time at Orangetheory to incline walking.
  • If we were sitting together today, I’d tell you that I’m still craving fruit non-stop. I start the day with berries or a banana in my yogurt, finish lunch with a handful of grapes or some fresh mango and then enjoy an apple with either cheese or almond butter for an afternoon snack. I worry that I’m eating too much sugar from the fruit but at the end of the day, I know that I’m lucky to have a craving like this versus bagels and cookies. Don’t worry, I’m human though and am also craving ice cream like most other pregnant ladies. I did some research and discovered that my craving for fruit is due to how cool and refreshing it is, similar to the reason why women tend to crave ice cream or frozen yogurt.
  • If we were sitting together today, I’d tell you that it feels so weird to talk about an event that is happening in the future and realize that we’ll have a baby by that point. The other day Bo and I talked about buying Ed Sheeran tickets since he is coming to Brooklyn, but realized that with a three month old we have no clue whether a concert will be a good idea that night. I have a feeling we’ll be making these type of fun, social decisions last minute for the next year or so versus planning in advance.
  • If we were sitting together today, I’d tell you that disconnecting 30 minutes before bed has changed my sleep routine. Instead of scrolling through Instagram, Facebook, blog posts or news stories, I spend 30 minutes reading in bed each night. In addition to reading, I have also started creating a better sleep environment by spraying our pillows with this heavenly lavendar spray, lighting a candle and wearing cozy pajamas. While some nights are more restless than others due to my growing bump, I always fall asleep quickly these days which is a huge improvement. Would you all like me to share book recommendations more frequently or in a monthly post since I’m reading so much these days?
  • If we were sitting together today, I’d tell you that I’m still having a hard time getting into a workout groove. I blame it on all the travel I’ve done which has not allowed me to create a schedule. If you know me, you know I LOVE having a schedule in my life. It not only helps me stay organized but also accountable. I’m hoping that next week, my first full week in New York in over a month, will work out well. My goal is to finally enjoy the workouts I’ve been craving, all in one week – swimming, Xtend Barre, Orangetheory, prenatal pilates and or yoga and a long walk with a friend outside for fresh air.  Anyone want to join me for any of the above?
  • If we were sitting together today, I’d tell you how excited I am for my first baby shower. While we are having a shower in Savannah next month, Baby Girl Diamond’s first one is this weekend in Brooklyn. While unfortunately some of my close friends are traveling, there are still  going to be 17 people together in our home. I look forward to introducing my mom, mother-in-law, aunt and cousin to some of my wonderful girlfriends and spending the afternoon with each of them. I’m so thankful to have these thoughtful and wonderful women who are hosting this afternoon for Baby Girl Diamond.

  • If we were sitting together today, I’d tell you that while I love the new Boston special edition Launch 4 women’s shoes that I recieved in the mail from Brooks yesterday, I feel it’s only fair to give these to a runner who is either a Boston local or training hard for Boston. If you wear a size 10.5 and are either training for Boston Marathon or LOVE/live in Boston, then leave a comment below letting me know why you want these shoes and I’ll pick a winner at random on Thursday!

Your turn: What would you share with me?

Share Button
Follow:
ashleyd /

Altitude Camp with Brooks Running

Happy Monday! I am back in New York after an incredible weekend in Albuquerque, New Mexico with Brooks.

As you guys may recall, I was invited to join the Brooks Ambassador Team last year and am currently enjoying my second year as a member of their incredible ambassador team. This year there are nine inspirational women on the team.  Even though we all love Brooks and running, I love that beyond that we are a unique group which represents various running abilities and goals.

FullSizeRender

Brooks Blog Ambassadors from Left to Right (Janae, Jes, Tina, Anne, Emily, Me, Meghann, Kristen, and Lora)

Each year, Brooks invites the ambassadors to an annual trip which typically combines running, products and getting to know more about the brand. This year’s trip as a weekend in Albuquerque, New Mexico to better understand how the Brooks Beasts, aka their elite team, train.  Since there are benefits to training at altitude, the Brooks Beast team heads to Albuquerque for six weeks of altitude training each season. After last week’s snow and ice in New York, I was thrilled with the warm, sunny location as well as the boutique hotel where we stayed. There were around 40 awesome social media influencers, editors, and ambassadors in attendance this weekend. It was wonderful to not only catch up with my fellow ambassadors but also meet and get to know the other Camp Brooks attendees. We spent our weekend learning from their coaching staff and experts, logging miles via track and trail workouts, trying out new gear and forging relationships with other runners.

Camp Brooks 2017-28 (1024x768)

Here are some of the highlights from the weekend of running, learning and fun! 

  • Getting inspiration when I need it most. As we’ve talked, running has become more difficult these days with every week of pregnancy. While I am not ready to hang up my running shoes and fully switch to walking and other workouts, this weekend helped remind me that even short runs are rewarding.  Out of the 9 ambassadors, 5 of them are moms so it was wonderful to hear their tips and tricks for running through pregnancy and as a new mother. There were moments when I was self-conscious of going slow, especially when surrounded by some speedy runners, but both the fellow ambassadors and the Brooks Beast team reminded me that I’m running for two and should be proud of every step. By the end of the weekend, I logged 7.5 miles of running and jogging which was a win in my book.

IMG_1737

  • Getting dust on my shoes on the New Mexico trails. I fell in love with trail running when we lived abroad in Switzerland but haven’t been able to spend much time on the trails since moving back to New York. Saturday morning the group took a bus to the Michael Emery Bear Canyon trail to enjoy an hour of exploring the trails with a trail run. We split up into different pace groups to enjoy out an out and back run while enjoying gorgeous blue sky and sunshine. It was so fun to run by cactus, wildflowers and prairie dogs while keeping our pace slow during the 4 miles due to the 6,000 elevation.  Our entire group agreed that we could have stayed out there for hours exploring and enjoying the sights.

IMG_1753IMG_1729IMG_1727

  • Feeling warm and comfortable while running the trails, thanks to new gear.  Brooks outfitted each of us with some great new trail gear for our run Saturday morning, which you can see Tina, Anne and I wearing in the below picture. The Cascadia Running Jacket is the lightest, most innovative jacket including side and back ventilation via cut-outs, pack in pocket feature and expandable back to make room for throwing it on over a bookbag or hydration pack.  Even though it is super thin, it kept us all warm during the first half of the run and many people who have tried it swear that it also leaves you nice and dry on a rainy adventure.  In addition to these jackets, we wore the Greenlight running crops, Run Happy t-shirts, and the Caldera trail running shoes. On the trail these shoes made me feel supported and stable, but the comfortable fit made them comfortable enough to wear during yesterday’s long flight home. I also love the fun pink and purple colors – a change versus what I see in most trail shoes.

  • Learning tips and tricks from the Brooks Beast elite team.  Throughout the weekend, the Beast Elites served as our coaches and trainers sharing tips and tricks with us straight from their training plans. One of the most helpful portions was the warm-up workout they shared with us at the track Friday afternoon. We worked our way through this warm-up before starting the track workout and I loved learning a few new ones as well as being reminded of old favorites. It’s so important to focus on getting your muscles warm and activated before any workout, especially speed sessions.

  • Getting motivated and supporting others during a challenging track workout. I knew that trying to participate in the track workout wasn’t a smart idea since it was 80 degrees and sunny when we arrived at the track Friday afternoon.  But, instead of sitting on the sidelines, I did my best to join in the fun while altering the workout to keep things safe.  I jogged around the track, covering around 3.5 miles, cheering and motivating everyone while they completed the following workout:
    • 3 minutes at your 5k pace
    • 2 minutes recovery slow jog/walk
    • 200 meters at your one-mile pace
    • 4 minutes recovery slow jog/walk
    • Repeat the above 3 timesIMG_1809

In case you’re wondering, I’m wearing the Pick Up Tank, 5” chaser shorts and Launch in the above picture. As you guys know, the pick up tank has been a favorite of mind both before pregnancy and during thanks to its long length and soft material. This tank stays in place for EVERY workout whether you’re doing downward dog or running sprints. I was thankful to get a new pair of the Chaser Shorts as the ones I have at home are a large and no longer fit around my growing hips and stomach. These fun blue and white shorts will be regulars throughout the rest of my pregnancy. 

IMG_1764

  • Learning about health and nutrition from Dr. Kyle Pfaffenbach, the Brooks Beast Elite Team nutritionist.  I wish I could share a video of this presentation as it was so interesting and so many aspects are applicable not only to elite runners but also any person looking to lead a healthier life. Some of the highlights that I captured on my phone include the following:
      • Every body is unique and therefore we each have different responses to exercise and nutrition.
      • Remember that diet and exercise go together. You can’t make bad food choices and then think that you can “run it off” later.
      • Focus on the things that you can control versus stressing over those that you can’t such as age and genetics.
      • Become more engaged in your diet by monitoring and journaling the way your fueling and training makes you feel.
      • Diet, like training, is always a work in progress.
      • Omega 3 fatty acids are a great way to help reduce cholesterol, improve recovery and serve as an anti-inflammatory.
      • If your overall diet isn’t in place, a vitamin or supplement can’t be a magic bullet.
      • Recovery and refueling are important, especially after tough workouts. His favorite recovery drink is Bob’s Redmill Whey Protein mixed with regular or unsweetened chocolate almond milk. I’m going to order some of this so Bo and I can use this after our Orangetheory workouts!
  • Having run and relaxing with the group at the Brooks Beasts house. The Brooks Beasts were kind enough to open up their home on Saturday evening for an energy bar competition, cookout and sunset party. The large group split into teams for an energy bar competition during which we developed our own recipe for either a bar or ball using ingredients like oats, honey chia seeds, almond butter, and cinnamon. It was a hilarious and fun competition resulting in some tasty treats and a lot of enthusiasm. IMG_1801

The rest of the evening we hung out at the house enjoying a barbecue and hanging out with everyone including the Beasts. Huge props to Katie Mackey who hung out with our group and answered ALL of our questions.  I also had the chance to finally meet Brian aka Pavement Runner in person after following his blog and social outlets for YEARS. He was such a good sport, taking a selfie with us ladies.   As the sun began to set everyone huddled on the huge porch which overlooked the valley and provided a perfect view of the desert sunset!

pavement runner selfie

IMG_1796

  • Deepening my relationship with my fellow Brooks Run Happy Ambassadors.  Even though we rarely see each other in person, we shared hours of laughter and discussions this weekend about things including running, blogging, training, parenthood and more. Spaced out across the US, I’m so thankful to Brooks for bringing together such a strong group of women.

IMG_1800

Thank you, thank you thank you to Brooks for inviting and covering the costs to participate and take part in this incredible opportunity as well as including me as one of the Run Happy Ambassadors! I’m so proud to be part of this #runhappy brand!

Share Button
Follow: