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A Workout Mash Up

Thank you guys for all your warm comments after last night’s post. It was definitely a stream of consciousness post and I have no idea what inspired me. I’ll definitely address some of your questions in upcoming posts. As always, leave any other questions in comments or feel free to email me!

This morning didn’t start very well. I’ve been popping Vitamin C like it’s my job. Three quarters of my team at work are sick and I woke up feeling stiff and could barely swallow. An extra hour of sleep, warm water salt gargle, sunshine, fun shoes, and green juice left me feeling much better.

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Look at that sunshine!!

I wasn’t craving my normal breakfast though. I treated myself to a delicious egg white omelet from Toasties.

IMG_0677 This delicious omelet included lots of veggies and was topped with fresh salsa! I enjoyed it with a side of grapefruit for an extra kick of Vitamin C!

IMG_0678My afternoon was a bit more stressful than I’d like but as always, Sara and Theodora were there for me! What would I do without awesome girl friends? I can’t really share details at this point but hopefully I’ll have some good news to share with you all soon!

I took out some of my stress during an evening gym session. I had a meeting with the Equinox special events manager before my workout and spent a few minutes brainstorming blog events!

Unfortunately, my workout didn’t go quite as well. I stepped on the treadmill, focused on doing four miles at a harder than normal pace. One mile into my workout I was bored, in a funk, and ready to leave. I knew some sweat would make me feel better so I decided to make today’s workout a mash up of workouts.

  • 2 miles at 6.3 pace on the treadmill
  • 20 minutes of weights focusing on arms, abs, and shoulders
  • 10 minutes on the stair climber
  • 5 minutes abs and planks
  • 1 miles at 6.7 pace

It wasn’t the four miles I’d intended to complete but at least it was a sweat fest that left me feeling a bit better.  I enjoyed what’s quickly becoming my favorite late night dinner: cereal!

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  • skim milk
  • banana
  • Fiber One
  • Kashi Puffs

The rest of my evening was spent trying to master the art of self tanning. Luckily, my friend Grace dedicated an entire blog post to this endeavor today.  IMG_0687IMG_0688 Hopefully I’ll look tanner tomorrow and won’t regret this decision. My products of choice were the ones Grace recommended:

Today’s health and fitness tip of the day has to do with vitamins! The key components you must look for in a daily vitamin are the vitamins B6, B12, D, E and folic acid. Check yours today!

Question: Do you self tan?

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A Recharge Weekend

This has been exactly the weekend I craved and needed. It has been productive but relaxing. So far I’ve made great progress on this weekend’s to do list:

  • 10 mile run
  • Clean
  • Cook 2 homemade meals with Bo this weekend
  • Catch up on DVR shows
  • Grocery shopping for the week
  • Use my brown bananas
  • Post my giveaway
  • Return my dress to Lord & Taylor
  • Do at least 45 minutes of yoga

Last night, Bo and I made an amazing dinner together while enjoying a new bottle of white wine one of our friends gave us. Our dinner included many of our favorite things: fish, tarragon, Brussels sprouts, and mushrooms!

Our appetizer was healthier stuffed mushrooms, which Bo first made for my Marathon Celebration party!

IMG_0624 healthy stuffed mushrooms

These were delicious!

Our entree, Roasted Grouper with Sesame Almond Crust, is actually our favorite dish at Elizabeth’s on 37th, Savannah’s highest rated restaurant which has been wowing patrons since 1981 with their Southern coastal menu.

IMG_0625 Roasted Grouper With Sesame Almond Crust (Serves 6)

  • 36 ounces black grouper fillets, each 1/2 inch thick (6 fillets)
  • 2 tablespoons sesame oil
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon hot chili sauce
  • 1 cup wheat crackers, crushed (such as Weston Stoned Wheat Thins)
  • 1/2 cup asiago cheese, grated (2 oz.)
  • 1/4 cup toasted almond, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons sesame seeds, toasted
  • 1/4 cup fresh Italian parsley, minced
  • 2 tablespoons fresh tarragon, minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons butter, melted
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • Directions
    • Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Butter a shallow baking pan.
    • In a medium bowl, combine the sesame oil, vegetable oil, lemon juice, water, beaten egg, salt, cracked pepper, and chili sauce. Set aside.
    • In the bowl of a food processor, combine the wheat thins, cheese, almonds, sesame seeds, parsley, tarragon and cracked pepper and process to a crumb. Set aside.
    • Dip the fish fillets in the marinade and then in the crumbs. Place on the baking pan. Do now allow the fillets to touch each other. Combine the melted butter and olive oil and drizzle over the fish, then roast in the oven for 20 minutes until the fillets are browned and cooked through.

    We enjoyed this with roasted Brussels sprouts topped with a little asiago cheese.

    IMG_0627 Roasted Grouper with Sesame Almond Crust Roasted Grouper with Sesame Almond Crust and brussels sprouts

    This morning, we enjoyed a Sunday morning breakfast of scrambled egg whites, organic turkey bacon, toast, and coffee while reading the newspaper.

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    QUESTION: What is your favorite Sunday morning breakfast?

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    Why I Love Running with Friends

    Today was not the 10 miles it was supposed to be. 

    IMG_0597I was excited to run with Theodora, Melissa, and possibly Ali today while we caught up on all the week’s events. I enjoyed my favorite four mushroom thin crust pizza from Vezzo last night while relaxing. IMG_0593I cleaned out my Camelbak which hadn’t been used since the marathon. I even enjoyed 8 hours of sleep AND put my clothes out last night before bed.

    This morning I tried to eat a banana, peanut butter sandwich but I couldn’t finish it for some reason. Regardless, I was excited and ready to chat my way through 10 miles with Theodora, as Melissa ended up postponing her run. It felt like marathon training season all over again!    IMG_0595Though we were both in great spirits and the weather was gorgeous, the run was rough for miles 3 through 8. As we were weaving through the outskirts of Chinatown, making our way towards the East River path, Theodora found one of the only ice patches left in the city. Her fall sent both of us flying while knocking a huge city trash can into the middle of the street. Instead of helping, the bystanders just snickered. For a split second, I thought I’d lost my running buddy. Thankful that neither of us were injured more than a scrape and a bruise, we continued running; vowing to finish the mileage together. But, the wind coming off the water today made it feel like we were moving in place. Our splits went from around a 9:45 to a 10:15 for these middle miles.

    As you can see, we had enough fun to smile, continue chatting, and snap a few pictures.  IMG_0598 IMG_0599

    Are we done yet? This wind is about to blow me over!

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    Yay, we finally see buildings near Theodora’s; that must mean we’re close!  IMG_0601 (800x598) IMG_0602 (800x598)

    I took a rest break at Theodora’s apartment which allowed for plenty of Bailey time!

     IMG_0604 (800x598) IMG_0609 (800x598) All too soon, it was time for me to head back into the cold ready to sprint home. Since Theodora had sprinted 1.5 miles to my house this morning we ended at her apartment when my Garmin only read 8.75 miles. Therefore, in order to have the “same” run, I needed to run home to finish my 10.5 miles.

    I kissed her views and Bailey goodbye one last time before heading out into the wind.

    IMG_0612 (640x480)IMG_0615 (800x598) IMG_0614 (800x598) The break did my body good as the last mile and half home were two of my fastest miles of the day, around a 9:13 pace. IMG_0613 (640x480)

    One sweaty and windburn face later, I remembered why I love running with friends.

    They keep you going when you want to stop, they make you laugh during the worst miles, the constant conversation makes even the toughest miles fly, their apartments are perfect bathroom breaks, they are there to help you up when you go flying on ice or over a trash can, and they get really upset when random Chinatown people snicker at you!

    Now, if you don’t mind I have a long lovely bath to enjoy and a huge bowl of post run cereal and milk.

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