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A Classico Easy Dinner

 

Happy Tuesday! I hope everyone had a great day. I can’t complain about my work schedule this week since I’m not traveling. But, I do find that every other thought leads back to the marathon.

My manager: “Are you working from home on Friday Ashley?”

Me: “Well, working from home on Friday allows me to elevate my feet all day, foam roll every hour, go to the expo on my lunch break, and stay out of heels. So, yes, I think I’ll definitely take advantage of that perk on Friday!”

This morning my taper schedule called for a rest day. Since Bo woke up at 5:30 I figured I might as well wake up and do some gentle yoga and stretching.  You may have noticed that I didn’t go to any more yoga classes last week even though I originally intended to fit at least two classes in last week. I found myself pretty sore after the class last Sunday and both my running coach and personal trainer advised against yoga classes until after the marathon. It’s easy to stretch too far in a group class that isn’t designed for marathon runners. One stretch beyond my limit could result in a tweaked muscle.

Therefore, I’ve snuck in a couple of online yoga sessions in the comfort of my living room. This morning’s yoga session was compliments of Runner’s World and exactly what I wanted.

IMG_5198 (640x478) My breakfast was inspired by another Runner’s World article which professed the wonders of chia seeds. After some digging I found my bag of chia seeds, purchased from GNC two months ago, hiding in the back of our pantry. When mixed with the oats, banana, cinnamon, and water the chia seeds added wonderful bulk to my oats and a new texture.

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It’s amazing that 1 serving of these little seeds can help with inflammation, pack in tons of fiber, and provide calcium! If you’ve never given chia seeds a chance I highly recommend adding them to your yogurt, shakes, or oats.

All the marathon thoughts left me craving carbs for dinner this evening. I knew we had pasta in the pantry but was racking my brain trying to remember whether we had any frozen sauce. Luckily, Foodbuzz and Classico came to the rescue this evening!

IMG_5201 (478x640)As part of the Foodbuzz Tastemaker program, Classico sent me a complimentary jar of their new Light Creamy Alfredo sauce to sample.

IMG_5208 (478x640) I added peas and tomatoes to a serving size of the sauce, simmered on the stove for 10 minutes, and then tossed it with my al dente penne.

IMG_5209 (640x478) IMG_5210 (640x478)The alfredo sauce is definitely tasty but it does not have the same thick consistency you expect from an alfredo. While I really liked the taste, and would most likely purchase this sauce, I wish they could make it a bit thicker. If I hadn’t measured the sauce portion I think I would have used more by accident due to the sauce’s thinness. But, for 60 calories per 1/4 cup serving, you can’t beat it!

After dinner, while going through today’s mail, I came across an especially exciting treat: my marathon outfit!

IMG_5205 (640x478) IMG_5206 (640x478) As you may recall, Choose Cherries is sponsoring me and a few other runners for the New York City Marathon. As part of this partnership I’ve had the opportunity to incorporate cherries into my recovery and training plan, interview their dietician who is also a marathon runner, and partner with a great company!

Seeing my outfit, branded and decked out with my name, put me in the best mood! I’m ready to enjoy the next few days of taper and honor the rest period so I can run a fabulous 26.2 miles on Sunday!

Oh, in case you’re interested in tracking me, the links to the tracking tools can be found here and on this page as well. My information is below:

Bib #57106

Start Time: 10:40

I’m off to spend time with my compression socks! Have a great evening!

Question: What is your favorite song right now that I should add to my marathon mix?

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Bar Method Soho Review: Pain with a Smile

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Tonight I had the great opportunity to check out the newest Lotte Berk kid on the block in NYC thanks to Jes free class she set up for her readers. I’ve enjoyed classes inspired by the Lotte Berk method previously at Core Fusion and Physique 57.
In preparation for class, I reviewed the basics of The Bar Method.
The Bar Method™workout creates a uniquely lean, firm, sculpted body by combining the muscle-shaping principles of isometrics, the body-elongating practice of dance conditioning, the science of physical therapy and the intense pace of interval training into a powerful exercise format that quickly and safely reshapes and elongates muscles.

I’ve found from previous experience that taking a bar class 2x per week results in definite body changes. When I was taking Physique 57 classes last year 2x per week I noticed arm definition and my thighs were more slender. It has similar results as swimming.
The Bar Method Soho location is located on the second floor of 155 Spring Street right in the heart of Soho. Upon entering the space this evening I immediately noticed the warm, bright lighting and clean lines. This environment is definitely refreshing after walking through the Subway station grime.


The reception was warm and attentive as each reader entered. Everyone was smiling and more than happy to give us a tour of the space so we could make it our own. First up, the necessary water and treats in their kitchen area. I’ve never seen this before in a studio!


They offer filtered water to refill your water bottle or sell bottled water for $1.25. In addition they offer herbal teas for post class refreshment.

As you can see above, the lobby area features a plethora of lockers and benches which students may use to store their belongings. The lockers have key locks which remove and hang in the rooms during class which makes it easy to know your things are safe and sound.
Next stop on our tour was the ladies locker room. Once again there are plenty of lockers in the locker room along with changing space, bathroom stalls, towels, and a small shower area featuring a few stalls.


This locker room was definitely easier to navigate than both Physique 57 and Core Fusion. There was plenty of space even when 10 of us were in there changing. In addition, the new space has been kept up very well and is still spotless!
After meeting some of the other attendees, many of whom I’d met previously at other events, we were ready for a great class.


The class itself was very, very similar to both Core Fusion and Physique 57. The class is an hour long and best practiced while wearing socks or special grip socks which are sold at the front desk. I wore my Core Fusion socks and they worked perfectly.

I would really like to enjoy more Bar Method Soho classes but right now it doesn’t fit into my monthly gym budget since I already enjoy an Equinox membership. However, I think this is a great class to enjoy with friends every now and then. It forces me to focus on the difficult, small movements. If you are interested in learning more, their website is very thorough! In addition, a few other ladies have reviewed the classes: Jes, Dori, and Missy. Thank you Jes and Bar Method Soho for an amazing evening and workout! Hopefully I’ll be back soon to receive more pain with a smile.
Here are some of my favorite aspects of tonight’s class:

                                         Amy, one of the founders, led our class and had an amazing knack for learning names. She complimented and critiqued each of us throughout the class while addressing us by our names. This made me focus more since I knew I wasn’t “invisible”

    • Everything was done with a smile. The instructors and all staff must have been extensively trained on service and it shows!
    • The music was awesome! I’ve found in other classes that the music is dull at times and rarely actual music, especially during my experiences at Core Fusion. Tonight’s music was a great mix and really helped me stay with the beat.
    • I enjoyed tonight’s thigh sequence at the bar. It wasn’t necessarily as long as Physique or Core Fusion’s but I felt it very effective.
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Crazy Friday and Yoga Works NYC

Fridays are supposed to be relaxed and a time for catching up since I have “Summer Fridays” from Memorial Day through Labor Day. This means that Monday thru Thursday all summer we come in 30 minutes early and stay 30 minutes later so that Friday afternoon at 1pm most people can leave.While I rarely get to leave at 1pm, it is nice not to have any meetings planned after 12.
My Friday started with a quick Weight Watchers stop. I lost .5 lb this week which all things considered isn’t horrible. In addition, I picked up more of my favorite oatmeal and had a great chat with the leader their about my experience thus far. Some people have asked whether I’m going to the meetings. As of now, my schedule doesn’t allow for a 30 minute meeting and I’ve seen results historically without the meeting. Therefore, I go to their “open hours” where you can walk in and weigh in without waiting for the meeting.
Breakfast was refreshing and energizing! I’ve found that my oats stay with me longer when I add flax seeds so this week I’ve tried to get back to that. In addition, I’ve been easing into Maca Powder.
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1/2 c blueberries (0 points)
1/3 c Chobani yogurt (1 point)
2 Tbsp flax seeds (2 points)
1 Tbsp Maca Powder (0 points)
1 package Weight Watchers Vanilla Oatmeal (2 pts)
I worked like a crazy lady going meeting to meeting until 1pm. I spent the next hour working through my inbox. Doesn’t it feel great to make it through your inbox and actually file, delete, or respond to everything? Before heading to my PT appointment, I had a quick call with OpenSky to discuss my upcoming shops. I’m really excited about this venture and am equally thrilled that it will launch sooner than I expected.
Unfortunately, I lost track of time which meant I had five minutes to reach my PT appointment. Friday afternoon traffic meant a cab wasn’t possible so I power walked a mile to the appointment as quickly as possible. I’ve really come to love my mile walk to and from PT. We’re making great headway in therapy and finding that a lot of my issues also come from tight hip flexors. He couldn’t believe how tight they were yesterday when he spent 20 minutes digging at them. Luckily, he’s set me up with some great stretches that I can do everyday at home or in the gym.
After my appointment, I planned to head back downtown towards my normal Equinox for a great workout but instead literally ran into an Equinox at Broadway. I love that there are locations throughout the city. It makes working out so much easier!  I ran 15 minutes at 6.2 on the treadmill which is great headway! I’m still worried about getting into marathon shape but it’s a great improvement versus two weeks ago when I could barely walk due to my back injury. About 15 minutes into my elliptical HIIT session that I found on Fit Sugar I realized that my Yogaworks groupon had to be activated by July 2nd and it was in fact July 2nd. I was literally going through my weekend checklist in my head while working out and realized that I’d always thought July 2nd was Saturday which would fit my workout schedule perfectly.  After muttering a few select words I quickly dashed into the locker room, changed, and called Yoga Works. I was hoping they’d say that I could show the Groupon on my Blackberry. Unfortunately, I had to bring the actual coupon which meant I had to rush 20 blocks back to my office, print the coupon, then grab the Subway down to Union Square for the 5pm class.  

My Yogaworks experience was wonderful! The studio was a little cramped overall but our individual studio had huge open windows which allowed fresh air to flow through. The sunlight and fresh air helped put me in a relaxed state of mind. I was apprehensive about the Level 2 Vinyasa Flow class as I wasn’t sure what their level system meant. But, this hour long class was the perfect end to a stressful day. It definitely challenged me as the instructor included many poses that I’ve never done before and 10 minutes of inversion work. Janna, the instructor, really made this class for me. 

Janna did a great job adjusting us throughout the class, describing the poses, and helping us focus on our breathing. My goal for the class was to make a conscious effort to breathe into and through each pose. I successfully held warrior three for an entire minute and did a wall hand stand and head stand without assistance!
I would love to include this 5pm YogaWorks class into my normal schedule. It shed the stress of my Friday and helped me “let it all out” before arriving home to Bo for our date night.
How do you let your stress go after a long day and week?

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