The Runner's Kitchen

These last few weeks days have been busy and I don’t see an end in sight!

Tuesday morning called for an early gym visit and my favorite spinning class. But first I gulped down some coffee and a banana. Working out on an empty stomach? Not for this girl.

Spin class music was awesome this week and the 45 minutes of cycling flew by. Immediately after getting off the bike, I hopped on a treadmill (um…remember that triathlon I’m signed up for?). I ran 3 miles:

• mile 1- 8:50 pace
• mile 2- 7:30 pace
• mile 3- 7:30 pace (this pace feels A LOT easier than it used to, but still not easy/comfortable)

After a quick stretch and a shower, I was off to work. I was positively starving on the 1 train, so I gobbled down my Nature’s Path peanut butter granola bar (tastes like a rice crispy treat!) and then made myself a decaf cappuccino when I got to the office.

Breakfast, part #3 was a cup of Kashi Go Lean and a Stonyfield Farm non-fat strawberry yogurt. Gimme food.

I actually managed to break loose from my desk during the lunch hour and walked to and fro the library (I heart free books!) and then filled up with a large and lovely salad.

• romaine, shredded carrots, mushrooms, onions, roasted red pepper
• tasting of white bean and artichoke salad
• tasting of potato and tuna salad
• croutons, dried cranberries, feta cheese, balsamic vinaigrette

And a banana nut vita top on the side. 6 grams of fiber, woo.

Mid-afternoon called for a cuppa tea and a biscotti.

The best part of my day was when I got home from work and had the whole evening free to play around in the kitchen. I love nights like that!

Awhile back I received a new cookbook to review – Moosewood Restaurant: Cooking for Health

I really enjoy the cookbooks from the Moosewood Collective. Life goal: Eat at the actual restaurant in Ithaca, NY. This book is packed with tons of yummy vegetarian recipes with an emphasis on seasonal produce, whole grains, and beans.

I’m working with the folks at Simon & Schuster on getting permission to post the actual recipe, so stay tuned! Until then, you can look at my photos of the process and use your imagination

The cold, windy weather called for something warm and comforting, so I decided to make the Savory Asparagus and Mushroom Bread Pudding. Look at all those veggies!!!

Add some whole wheat bread, eggs, milk, and cheese and the result is savory and comforting winter supper. This recipe is a nutritional powerhouse – 222 calories, 11 grams of fat, 14 grams of protein, 19 grams of carbohydrate, and 4 grams of fiber per serving.

I made some kale chips on the side (I’m not lyin’ about the veggie love…)

Ketchup, yum.

I decided to carry my “green theme” over to dessert - sliced granny smith apple with a big spoonful of peanut butter (and ok maybe some more from the jar…) and a bit of melted caramel.

Live in NYC? Check out these FREE ways to get fit in January!

After weeks of holiday treats, clean up your diet with some yummy entree salads.

Careful ladies:  new research shows that women who are in a relationship may gain nearly twice as much weight as single women over a 10-year period.

Question: What’s your favorite thing to cook/bake when you have the time?

I love how packed my social calendar gets during the holiday season, but lately I feel like I’ve been burning the candle at both ends. For the past month I’ve been running 50+ mile weeks, averaging only 6 1/2 hours of sleep per night, and consuming way more than my fair share of red wine and holiday cookies. I could really use a few days of R&R before Christmas arrives, but I don’t see that happenin’.  Guess I’ll just have to be a little more diligent about an early bedtime (or brew that second third cup of coffee)….

When my alarm went off before sunrise on Monday, I was a seriously cranky girl, meh. Coffee with Frida and 1/2 peppermint stick luna bar helped me to become functional. After a little time for digestion, Alma and I headed out the door for a morning run. My IT band and hamstring felt good for the 6.5 miles through Central Park, but I was feelin’ pretty sleepy and tired. Post-run I hydrated with a big glass of water and an apple and then got ready for work.

Arrival at the office signaled time for coffee #2 (well, a cappuccino to be exact) and a bowl of apple-cinnamon steel cut oats from Jamba Juice. Ah! I love these oats. They’re not on special for $1 anymore, but they’re totally worth the full price. The oats contain 290 calories, 60 grams of carbs (energy!), 8 grams of protein, and 5 grams of fiber. Plus they taste great – I love the layer of cooked apples, cinnamon, and brown sugar that comes on top.

After a morning full of work, I paused for lunch. There’s not really any way to make black bean & pumpkin soup in a take out container look appetizing, but I promise it was delicious! 

Plus a salad because…vegetables are good for you!

• romaine, shredded carrots, mushrooms, onions
• spoonfuls of fruit salad, orzo salad, and cottage cheese
• sunflower seeds, craisins, balsamic vinaigrette

I had a serious chocolate craving around 4pm, so I snacked on a baggie of Cocoa Roast almonds – delicious! And then I wanted more chocolate, so I had two Adora calcium supplements. In a row. Eh, I’m pretty sure you’re not supposed to do that. “Do as I say, not as I do.”

I attended a holiday party in the evening and some more red wine was consumed (at least it’s good for my heart, right?).

And now for some blurry awesome cell phone photos. Yay!

I had about 3 small plates throughout the evening – I tried to include some healthier fare like cucumber-feta salad, raspberries, olives, tabbouleh-tomato salad, and hummus, but plenty of Humboldt-Fog goat cheese and pita crisps were also enjoyed. I really love Mediterranean style tapas – I could eat like this every day!

After my soiree, I headed home and got a little gift-wrapping out of the way. About an hour for bed, my tum started growling. I’ve been holding off on buying groceries this week since I have so many after-work committments, but I managed to scrounge together a fairly decent snack. I mixed a Tbs of peanut butter into a container of Chobani (peanut butter flavored yogurt!) and a 1/2 cup of Kashi Go Lean.

I didn’t make it to bed as early as I planned, but at least it was before midnight!

Today was another early morning. Pre-gym snack involved coffee and 1/2 peppermint stick luna bar. No photo, too early. After a few weeks hiatus, I made it back to my favorite 7am spin class. Today’s theme: Angels, Demons, Heaven, and Hell. The instructor got very creative with the music including such classics as: “The Devil Went Down to Georgia”, “Losing my Religion”, and “Halo”. Interesting…

I followed up 40 minutes of spinning with 3 miles on the treadmill in 24:45. A year ago, my usual “easy” run pace was around 8:00-8:30 per mile and that speed is finally feeling normal again. Yay! I foam rolled and stretched afterwards and then hit the showers!

Breakfast was healthy, but a little boring (I want $3 jamba juice oatmeal everyday!). Grapefruit and orange segments and a cup of Oikos non-fat greek yogurt.

And a decaf cappuccino. Hey, at least it was decaf!

Now, on to productivity! Enjoy your Tuesday

Do you love Trader Joe’s as much as I do? Check out their list of most favorite products of 2009. I just about swoon everytime I think of their economically priced nut butters….

Kelly Rutherfood a.k.a. Lily from the hit TV show gossip girl is actually an UES mom in real life. Check out her tips for staying healthy during the holidays in NYC.

Question: What’s the first thing you slack on when you’ve got too much to do? Exercise? Healthy Eating? Sleep? Time with friends? For me, it’s sleep! I need to start making it a priority…

Happy weekend! My TGI Friday started off with a little bit of sleeping in (till 8am!) and a banana -

And then a cappuccino with a packet of sugar in the raw and clif bar once I arrived at my desk. I finally received my new (BPA-free!) Sigg bottle. I like the new “sports cap”, but it took me nearly an entire day to figure out how to get the water to  come out. Seriously.

Morning was productive, stomach started to get hungry around noon. Had some prunes to hold me over till lunch and then headed over to a 45 minute spinning class at my gym. I usually dig the music this instructor plays, but today I just wasn’t feelin’ it. Ah well, maybe we’ll get a little more Britney Spears next week. After a warm-up the class did 3 hill climbs with some speed surges mixed in. I really like going to cycling classes because I don’t think I would add resistance or speed if I were to bike by myself!

Lunch was a salad from the cafeteria (so much more exciting than a packed lunch!):

• iceberg and mixed greens
• shredded carrots, mushrooms, red onion, roasted butternut squash
• black beans, cannelloni beans
• sprinkle of blue cheese, craisins, and sunflower seed
• balsamic vinaigrette (extra garlic-y today!)

Afternoon snackeroos: chai latte (from the flavia machine at work) and a dark chocolate-covered pretzel.

And a Brown Cow maple cream top yogurt. This was the first time I ever tried one of these – I liked it a lot!

I stared at the clock worked diligently until 5:30pm and then skedaddled to a 6pm hot yoga class with Agnes. It was sweaty. If you don’t live in New York City or Northern California (or just feel like stayin’ home) you can still partake: check out the new YTTP podcasts!

After yoga, I was feelin’ good. My shoulders were relaxed, my head was clear, my bags were light. Wait. Maybe a little too light. When I was about 1/2 way home I realized I had left my new lunaracers (Thanks Nike!) in the changing room of the yoga studio. F%$#!!

I dashed into my apartment, changed out of sweaty clothes, grabbed a snack and headed back downtown.

My fellow subway passengers were weirded out intrigued by my carrot sticks and peanut butter snack.

Thankfully yogis are pretty good people (karma!) and my shoes were waiting for me when I arrived. I was so happy to retrieve them that I snapped a photo on the grungy subway platform. The lunaracers are SO light – 4.5 ounces! I can’t wait to race something fast in them.

9pm, finally home and hungry. Apologies for the lack of creativity, but I just wanted to EAT. I heated up a cup of roasted garlic-potato soup and had some triscuits and a laughing cow cheese on the side. I was craving salt after sweaty hot yoga.

Shortly before hitting the hay, I downed a glass of milk and some Nantucket cookies. Yum!

And that was Friday!

I just finished up a 16.5 mile run (more on that later)…and have plans to stay snug in my apartment for the rest of Saturday. It’s cold and rainy outside – perfect for reading, napping, and baking

Question: What’s your favorite cold and rainy day food?

Did you know that food is more valuable in its fermented form (think apples vs. hard cider, milk vs. cheese)? Check out this cool article on food fermentation!

I really need to start going to bed earlier. When my alarm beeped at 6:26am I was NOT ready to get up. But once I got my feet on the floor and some (1/2 decaf) coffee in my system, I was feeling a little more energetic. I made it to the gym in time for my favorite spinning class (today’s instructor is tied with Friday’s…). After 40 minutes of cycling, I hopped off the bike and headed straight over to the treadmill. My IT band had been bugging me after all the walking and running I did this weekend, so I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel. I was very happy to have absolutely no pain and the faster pace felt easy. Hooray! Probably the best run I’ve had all year. If I could just figure out a way to make it feel like this ALL of the time! I really think that biking is helping to correct my muscle imbalances and I’ve been foam rolling up a storm, so I’m sure that’s helping. Now, I just need to be good about not over-doing it on the mileage…

Run Stats: 3 miles in 24:17

• mile 1 (warm up) – 9:13
• mile 2 – 8:00
• mile 3 – 7:04 (finished the last 400m at 6:44 pace !)

My subway train ended up going express and I had to get off at Times Square/42nd (least.favorite.place.in.nyc) and walk 10 blocks back uptown. But because I had such an awesome run, not even the overpriced chain restaurants and hordes of tourists could rile me up. I even snapped a photo of my commute!

And then this hungry girl ATE BREAKFAST - sliced banana, chobani greek yogurt with PB2 mixed in (extra protein!), and a chocolate vita muffin top on the side.

Mid-morning pick-me-ups: decaf cappuccino and a luna bar

Lunch was a yummy combo that I prepared from pantry staples (trying to save $$ whenever I can…) – baked sweet potato topped with 1/2 cup black beans, hot sauce, and a melted Polly-O brand string cheese.

Followed up by 1/2 Cadbury fruit & nut chocolate bar. Mmm…

Cadbury Fruit & Nut bars are sooo good. It took tremendous self control not to devour the entire thing! But I have a fun vegetarian restaurant dinner planned tonight (details later!) and I didn’t want to spoil my appetite.

Read more about this super nut that can prevent fatigue and sugar cravings.

I love yoga! Check out these 6 poses that can help runners increase range of motion and reduce injury risk.

‘Tis the season for giving, but who really needs more stuff?  In lieu of receiving Christmas (or Birthday!) presents, Holly is raising money to build a water well in Cambodia because 2/3 of the region’s people do not have access to clean water. Check out her Just Give donation page for more information on donating to the cause. Yay, Holly!

Question: Do you ever volunteer time or donate money to a charity? Childhood hunger is something that really upsets me, so I try to donate a little bit whenever I can. Feeding America is one of my favorite organizations!

TGIF - Matt and I have a new article posted to True/Slant today. Check out our thoughts on cross-training!

Let’s pick up where we left off yesterday, shall we? After my veggie packed lunch, I was craving some carbs. Good thing I had one more Honest Foods baked granola bar to save the day. I love that the first two ingredients in this are: whole grain oats and almond butter. The apple ginger variety was pretty good, but my favorite flavor is still the cranberry lemon zest.  

My brain was feeling fuzzy after 9 hours of excel sheets, so I headed to the gym for 3 miles of sweaty stress relief (i.e. running) followed 3 x 10 lunges and calf raises (ooh, my muscles are paying for this today).

I also foam-rolled the ol’ IT band because it was cranky from sitting in an office chair all day.

I was greeted by the noxious smell of paint when I returned to my apartment. Pros – the shower is now fixed and I can probably get clean without burning myself. Cons – building code requires that our heating pipes be painted silver and the paint the contractor used is overwhelming, to say the least. Hopefully some open windows will remedy this…

I’ve been a lazy girl this week and haven’t cooked much since Sunday’s pumpkin risotto, but sometimes a girl’s gotta do, what a girl’s gotta do and this week work took precidence. Anyway, I made a simple supper last night of ak-mak crackers topped with avocado slices and hummus.

And then an Amy’s cheese enchilada meal. I love Amy’s Kitchen! Her all-natural, organic soups and frozen foods are some of the best on the market (and no…they don’t pay me to say that!). After microwaving, I plate the food and add something to bulk it up (crackers and avocado!). This makes it seem more like a real dinner.

Cheese enchilada, black beans, and corn:

And then I snuggled into bed and watched the final episode of Mad Men Season 1 (omg, does anyone watch this?? Can’t believe the situation with Peggy….). I enjoyed a small slice of amaretto cheesecake while get my 1960’s fix. Instead of having a crust, the cheesecake was covered with a thin layer of slivered almonds – loved it!

 And now…TGIF!! Steps to a Great Friday:

1) Sleep until 8am and worry about going to the gym later…

2) Wear your favorite yellow suit to work.

3) Add cowboy boots

4) Consume your favorite addiction breakfast of greek yogurt, PB2, and dried cranberries. Plus some water and a decaf cappuccino!

5) Snack on a vitamuffin + peppermint tea to pep.you.up!

6) Take an early lunch break and spend 45 minutes at your favorite spin class (today’s music theme: disco!).

7) Make a stop in the cafeteria and load up on all the veggies you can get your hands on:

• romaine lettuce, sliced red onion, shredded carrots, mushrooms
• roasted Keri squash, roasted parsnips, roasted pear
• black bean salad
• feta cheese and sunflower seeds
• balsamic vinaigrette

8 ) For 4pm snack, mix the BEST pita chips ever (stacy’s brand) with 1/4 of slightly-mashed avocado.

9) Buckle down for the rest of the afternoon in the hopes that you can meet your yoga buddy for a 7:30pm class.

And that, my friends, is how great Fridays are made! What’s your tip for making it a good day?

Make your Thanksgiving feast lighter, healthier, but still delicious!

Chocolate milk = reduces inflammation?  Sign me up!

My week went by fast, but I am so ready for the weekend!

After Thursday night’s 10 mile run, I decided it would be best to sleep in a little on Friday and plan for a p.m. gym visit. My day started off simply: coffee, Nature’s Path instant oatmeal (made with skim), and a banana.

Lunch was a leftovers re-mix: lentils, 1/2 sweet potato, melted mozzarella cheese, and hot sauce. I heated up everything for 2 minutes and then mixed in a big handful of arugula. All of the flavors melded together quite nicely

I managed to fit in a brisk 15 minute walk at lunchtime….I sat at my desk for 10+ hours yesterday and I could NOT do that again today. I needed some sunshine!

Afternoon snackeroos were decaf cappuccino and another honest foods baked granola bar. I love the ingredient list on these bars: oats, almond butter, dried cranberries, pumpkin seeds, etc. So good! I can’t wait to try all of the flavors. The variety I had yesterday was pretty good – it had a decidedly almond flavor.

I was feeling kind of brain-fried when I finally left work, so I wasn’t in the best of spirits when I arrived at the gym. I thought about packing it in and going home, but I know that I always feel better after a sweaty workout so I stuck it out. I warmed up on the elliptical for 10 minutes and then took a 45 minute cycling class. This instructor was nowhere near as fun as the guy who teaches my Tuesday a.m. class., but all-in-all it was a good workout and I felt better afterward.

I stopped at Whole Foods on my way home and decided that I needed a little snack from the salad bar – a small container of spinach salad with lemon pepper tofu.

And then when I got home, I heated up some lentils with hot sauce (that’s the last of the lentils, I promise!) and a veggie burger with hummus on a whole wheat sandwich thin. And there wasn’t a simple carbohydrate in sight

I experienced some internet problems that caused me to freak out put a damper on my to-do list, so I decided to unwind with a book + early bedtime. But before I hit the sheets, I needed a snack: Oikos plain greek yogurt with a Tbs almond butter and 1/2 crushed Kashi granola bar.

Things are looking up today – the internet issues are solved, I’m about to head out the door for a run, and I have a fun afternoon + evening planned with one of my best friends from high school. Happy Weekend!

What if you’re a runner, but can’t tolerate pasta? No worries, there are other options.

Question: Are you a pasta lover? Or do you prefer to get your carbs in other ways? I don’t really like pasta, but thankfully I DO love potatoes, bread, and oatmeal. Yay, carbs!

Good morning! Check out my latest contribution to the Running Shorts column on True/Slant – Alternative Sports Medicine. If you’re struggling with aches and pains, make sure you know all of your options.

Yesterday was an early one, but getting up with the sun was worth it – I love my Tuesday morning spin class! I started off with 1/2 decaf coffee and a few pieces of dried fruit.

After a fun 45 minute cycling session, I did some strength training (not my fav, but necessary):

• 3 x 10 bicep curls
• 3 x 10 tricep dips
• 3 x 10 tricep extensions
• 3 x 10 lunges

And then 20 minutes on the elliptical to read Marie Claire magazine cooldown.

Breakfast was vanilla greek yogurt with PB2 mixed in, a lazy girl’s baked apple, and a vita muffin.

My “lazy girl’s baked apple” was just a sliced Macoun apple, drizzled with maple syrup and cinnamon, and microwaved for 2 minutes. So easy to make, but it feels so much more special than a regular ol’ apple.

Mid-morning snack: Heritage grain flakes and 2% milk.

Lunch was a cup of Campbell’s Select french onion soup and a hummus, arugula, and mozzarella sandwich on a whole wheat flat bread. I was pleasantly surprised by this soup – very rich and flavorful and no “canned soup” taste.

And then some leftover Halloween candy to power me through the rest of the afternoon…

After I left the office I headed to my local polling place to vote. Yay, civic duty! And then returned to my apartment for dinner and a few hours of writing, emailing, and blog work. I think I stared at a computer screen for 14+ hours yesterday – yikes!

Dinner was a repeat of Monday – 1/2 baked sweet potato, lentils, lots of mozzarella cheese, and hot sauce. Oh, and some leftover apple cider!

I resisted the new Mad Men DVD sitting on my desk (must.respond.to.emails), but I could not resist the call of Katie’s homemade pb & j bars sitting in my fridge. I warmed one up in the microwave and added a big dollop of greek yogurt (tastes like whipped cream!)

I may have eaten another pb & j bar around 1am. It was a long night…

10 Free Ways to Get Healthy in November!

Hungry for a sandwich? How about generous scoops of quinoa and hummus rolled in a blistered naan along with pickled vegetables, sauerkraut and tangy yogurt? Yes, please! Read more about these drool-worthy sandwiches on the NY Times.

Get the 411 on dried fruit – FYI yogurt covered raisins are NOT your best option.

Is there a connection between processed foods and depression? The BBC reports on a study that says yes.

A new study suggests that yoga is very beneficial for women being treated for eating disorders. Yay, yoga!

Question: What’s your “power snack” to get you through a late night of homework/work?

This has got to have been the.longest.week.ever. Thank Goodness It’s Friday!

Friday started off with the usual coffee (1/2 decaf), lots of emails, and a baked apple with vanilla oikos greek yogurt.

Mid-morning snack: Kashi crunchy pumpkin spice granola bar (’Tis the season for pumpkin after all!)

I was workin’ like a mad woman trying to get through my to-do list and by the time I looked at the clock, it was already noon. I debated staying put and finishing up a project, but I knew I’d feel better if I got my blood flowing a bit. I hurried to the gym and made it in time for a “spooky cycling” class at 12:15pm. It was awesome! We listened to “The Monster Mash”, “Thriller”, and the theme song from “Ghost Busters” as we pedaled away. I love going to this instructor’s class because i.have.a.huge.crush.on.him.too.bad.he.likes.boys he always plays the best music!

After spin class, I popped into the cafeteria for a salad.

This yummy jumble of flavors included:

• arugula, mixed greens, carrots, onions, mushrooms
• feta cheese, cranberries, pumpkin seeds
• piece of sweet potato
• spoonful of rice & beans
• spoonful of pinto bean salad
• brussel sprouts + roasted apples

And then some salt & pepper popchips (addiction).

Even though it was the day before Halloween, my office was seriously lacking in candy, so I ventured to Duane Reade in search of something sweet. I debated getting some candy corn, but instead decided on a box of kudos. I think the last time I had one of these was in the mid-90’s, but it was surprisingly good! I tried the chocolate chip variety (100 cals, 3.5 grams of fat, 3 grams of fiber) and it satisfied my sweet tooth while being a little bit healthier than candy. At least it’s made with whole grains

I chugged water all afternoon in preparation for hot yoga with Agnes and by 6pm I was ready to do some warrior poses in 95 degree+ heat. Really, it’s fun. However, tonight’s class was just so-so. The instructor wasn’t my favorite (I never like the ones that make us do bicycle crunches…), but in the end I’m glad I went!

After I convinced everyone in my subway car that I was a bum (sweaty mess), I arrived home with a mission: quickest dinner ever!

I heated up an Amy’s Kitchen Veggie Tamale dinner and while it does NOT look pretty, it certainly tasted good!

My photo:

Amy’s photo:

Umm, Amy wins.

And for dessert – 2% Fage greek yogurt with PB2 and tart cherries mixed in.

Ok, that’s it for tonight. Hannah will be arriving via Bolt Bus from Boston any moment! And I haven’t showered yet. Need to hop to it.

In the News:

Something we probably already knew: music makes exercise easier!

Live in New York? Hungry for pumpkin? Check out these local restaurants that are serving up seasonal fare!

Before you dig in to the candy, start your day off right with some high protein pumpkin pancakes. This one’s for you Holly!

Keep Halloween candy portions in check with this tool.

Did you know that trick-or-treating dates back to the middle ages? Find out more Halloween facts here.

Question: What’s your favorite Halloween candy? I love mini snickers bars!

Before I get down to business and chat about my running and foodie adventures, I have some exciting news! Matt (NoMeatAthlete) and I are the newest contributors for the online news network True/Slant. The focus of our column will be on all things running: gear, races, nutrition, athletes in the news, etc. We’re still figuring out the direction for Running Shorts, but we’re open to suggestions. Check out our inaugural post and let us know what you’d like to read about!

I totally had a case of the Mondays yesterday, boo. But I did begin the day with a 3-mile run with Alma. That helped get the week off to a good start!

Breakfast was a cappuccino and overnight oats. The overnight oats won’t be winning any beauty contests, but they were filling and yum!

• 1/3 cup oats
• 1/2 cup Fage 0% greek yogurt
• 1/2 cup 1% milk
• sliced banana
• handful of cranberries
• LOTS of cinnamon

The options for a bag-lunch were slim pickings (need to go to the grocery store…), so I hit up the salad bar at lunch time. I enjoyed this beauty outside in the sun (probably one of the last days I can eat lunch outside this Autumn!).

• romaine lettuce, shredded carrots, red onion, mushrooms
• stalk of baby bok choy
• spoonful of white bean & artichoke salad
• feta cheese, cranberries, pumpkin seeds, croutons
• sample of a tostone and a spoonful of rice & beans
• Tbs balsamic vinaigrette

And then some pop chips! They were handing out samples of these little 50-calorie bags near Columbus Circle last week. Score!

Dessert was a (surprise!) magic bar from a co-worker. Coconut, graham cracker, butterscotch chips, chocolate chips, mmm. It’s a good thing the portion was small – these little babies could be dangerous!

And then around 5pm, I poured myself a bowl of Heritage heirloom whole grain flakes with skim milk.

I was feeling kind of bored/blah after I left the office, so I headed back to my gym for some easy elliptical. I pedaled away for about an hour while I read my newest book: The Nineteenth Wife

After some stretching, foam rolling, and showering (still having hot water problems at my apartment, ugh), I headed uptown.

My mission for dinner: Assemble something healthy and tasty with whatever ingredients I had on hand.

I heated up a black bean veggie burger and rolled it up in a whole wheat lavash wrap along with hummus, mozzarella cheese, hot sauce, and shredded carrot. It was surprisingly good!

Dessert came from the fridge & freezer: a warm vita brownie topped with almond butter. Protein? Check. Fiber? Check. Vitamins? Check. Delicious? Absolutely!

As I finished up Mad Men, Season 1, Disc 3,  my tum started to grumble. Solution? Wallaby vanilla bean yogurt! With a satisfied stomach and sleepy eyes, I set my alarm for an early wake-up call.

Ok, the sun needs to get its act together and start rising before I do. When the alarm beeped at 6:20am, it was still veryyy dark (and rainy!) outside. I dragged myself to the kitchen for coffee (half-decaf) and dried fruit and then set off for the gym.

I went to my favorite 45 minute spinning class (yay, 80’s music!) and then finished up with a increasing speed 4 mile run.

• Mile 1 – 9:20
• Mile 2 - 9:15
• Mile 3 – 8:00
• Mile 4 – 7:45
• Total - 34:20

Breakfast at my desk was a decaf cappuccino (perfect after my rainy, chilly commute), a banana, strawberry chobani, and 1.5 cups of Kashi Honey Sunshine.

The morning was a whirlwind and before I knew it, my stomach was MORE than ready for lunch. I just finished the very last of the leftover octoberfest veggie chili (wahoo!) and a cornbread vitatop. After this morning’s long gym session, I’m sure I’ll be needing a snack soon. 

Can’t wait until tonight - I have a yummy dinner recipe in the works. Stay tuned!

Who knew pumpkin seeds were so healthy? 85 seeds contain 126 calories, 5 grams of protein, 5 grams of fiber, Omega-3’s, and zinc. Now if we could only make them taste like candy corn…

When I woke up on Thursday morning, I was treated to a sauna-like spa treatment in my own apartment. Although the forecasted high for the day was 75 degrees, the super had the heat turned on full blast. And nope, we don’t have an adjustable thermostat.

I had the usual coffee (half decaf) and then did a mini strength workout: 30 pushups, 30 tricep dips, 20 bicycle crunches, 20 regular crunches, 20 crunches with lifted legs, 40 reverse crunches, and stretching. Pheww. The sweltering heat in the living room really helped me to work up a sweat.

When I got to the office, I sliced up a banana (it’s hiding in there, I swear!) and topped it with some plain chobani and a drizzle of honey.

With a generous amount of Kashi Honey Sunshine. Straight-outta-the box. Yum.

Lunch was leftover Octoberfest veggie chili and a cornbread vita top.  I added a dab of butter and it paired well with the corn muffin’s sweet taste. 100 calories and 6 grams of fiber – you can’t beat it!

I was running around to meetings all afternoon, but I made time for a cappuccino and some homemade trail mix (pretzel nuggets, spiced almonds, cranberries, chocolate chips).

And then I went to the gym for a run-bike-run sandwich. I started off with 2 miles on the treadmill (~9 minute pace), then transitioned to a 6:30pm spinning class in the cycling studio. This instructor was TOUGH. We did a lot of standing hill intervals (the longest lasted for 9 minutes, ughhh) and my quads were feeling pretty trashed by the end of the 45 minute class. Once I hopped off the bike, I ran back over to the treadmill and ran for another 2 miles (~8:30 pace) and then I was done!

I’ve been liking my run-bike combos so much, that I have exciting news to announce! I signed up for my very first triathlon!! The triathlon is a bit unconventional – it’s in January and it’s indoors. Each participant swims in a pool for 10 minutes, bikes for 30 minutes, and then runs on a treadmill for 20 minutes. Rankings and places are determined by how far you go in each event. Now that my leg is feeling better, I’m getting excited about training for races again. I’m still bummed that I have to defer my NYC Marathon entry this year (the marathon is all anyone can talk about this week…) so being able to focus on something new is a really positive thing for me. Yay!

I don’t always do such a great job with re-fueling immediately after workouts, but I knew I needed some protein after my 1 hour and 20 minute Run + Bike. I had a McDonald’s gift card floating around in my bag for the past few months and I finally discovered a healthy use for it. I stopped by Mickey D’s and ordered up a child’s size low-fat chocolate milk jug. The 8 oz container contained 180 calories, 30 grams of carbs, and 9 grams of protein. The carb-to-protein ratio is nearly 3-to-1 which is ideal for muscle recovery. Bonus: it cost less than a dollar!

Once I made it home (I walked the mile or so from the gym – it was such a beautiful, warm night!), I was ready for FOOD!

I wrapped up a black bean veggie burger, hummus, hot sauce, mozzarella cheese, and arugula in a big whole wheat tortilla.

And then for dessert: Fage 0% greek yogurt topped with dried cranberries and a big scoop of peanut butter. I felt like this dinner re-fueled me well!

Despite a somewhat-restless night of sleep (mosquito bites!) my Friday started off pretty great – with coffee, 1/2 spiced pumpkin clif bar (love the holiday flavors!), and a 5 mile run with Alma. The weather was Autumn perfect – 50 degrees and dry. Also, highlight of the run – I caught a leaf!

The rest of my eats today have been pretty boring (leftovers, leftovers, leftovers), but I promise to be more creative this weekend!

This recipe for Almond Pear Muffins sounds amazing! I might need to test it out soon

Check out this article which details the Pros and Cons of the Elliptical

What if the alarm clock doesn’t go off on race day?? The NY Times talks to runners who experience bad dreams before the marathon. The good news? Those scary dreams are totally normal.

Question: Do you ever remember you dreams? I do! And mine are always really crazy….