CLICK Protein Espresso Giveaway!

If you’re close with me, one thing you know about me is that I’m a coffee fiend. Iced coffee with soy milk, to be exact. It’s an every day necessity for me and it’s become less about the caffeine effect (let’s be honest, after years of drinking coffee it doesn’t exactly work like the first time and more about the amazing taste. When I heard about CLICK, the protein powder that actually contains espresso, I died a little. It had to be too good to be true right? I had seen it all over Skinny Runner’s blog and figured she wouldn’t lie about such a thing (girl likes her coffee too, and I trust her cause she ain’t afraid to use some artificially flavored creamer in hers! haha)  Luckily the great people at CLICK sent me some to try myself. I picked out a container of the mocha flavor, and they sent along a shaker bottle and a packet each of vanilla latte and mocha decaf.

I dug into the vanilla latte packet on my way to see the Jillian Michaels tour and mixed it with some unsweetened vanilla almond milk, about 1.25 cups worth.

Tasted awfully naughty, like it would have a whole ton of sugar and not a lot of protein. Turns out the packet (equivalent to 2 scoops out of the full size container) has 120 calories, 6 grams of sugar, and 15 grams of protein! Depending on what kind of milk you use you can have a great post-workout drink that could have 20+ grams of protein plus the pick-me-up delivered from caffeine!

See? Me with coffee = happy! Even in gross Long Island Rail Road bathrooms.

The mocha is delicious and definitely tastes like a sinful drink you’d get at the Bux! Fortunately for you you can save a lot of calories and sugar by using CLICK, not to mention money. One of my favorite ways to use the mocha flavor is actually not in the form of a drink! I introduce to you, mocha banana oatmeal.

This is my usual oat base (1/3 cup old fashioned oats, 1/2 tbsp chia seeds, 1/4 cup wheat bran, banana) with 1 scoop of the mocha CLICK. SO AMAZING! With melty cherry chocolate peanut butter on top? Dessert for breakfast ya’ll!

Last but not least, I tried the packet of decaf mocha as an afternoon snack. I don’t drink coffee after noon-ish anymore because it tends to give me a killer headache, so I love that decaf is an option when you want the protein and espresso taste without the caffeine boost. Tasted just like the regular mocha!

In the spirit of keeping it real let me add this: if you are a super “clean” eater, you probably won’t like that CLICK has a lot of ingredients in it. I don’t mind because everything else I eat tends to be pretty clean, and I do what I wanna do yo!

And because I love ya’ll and want you to experience the yummy-ness that is CLICK, I will be picking a winner to receive their own choice of flavor and a shaker bottle!

To enter, leave me a comment telling me what your favorite way to drink coffee is!

For additional entries:  

Go to Facebook and “like” CLICK’s page and leave a comment on their page telling them you are entering my giveaway (Artificially Balanced blog) and leave me a comment telling me you did! http://www.facebook.com/drinkclick

Follow CLICK on twitter: https://twitter.com/drinkclick and tweet about my giveaway! Come back and leave another comment telling me you did!

Also be sure to visit CLICK’s webpage. They have a great sample kit so you can try the flavors before committing to a full canister!

Contest will close Thursday May 23rd at 11:00 AM.

NOTE: You do not have to be a blogger yourself to comment and win! I appreciate and love all feedback so if you’re a reader and not a blogger, I’d love to see your comments on my posts!  

Post Race Blues & SVU (obvi)

I read about running constantly and I totally love being a runner nerd. I’ve read that after races some people experience “post race blues” and it’s never happened to me before, maybe because my races before hand were all relatively easy for me (4 miler, 5 miler, 10K). The half marathon was a solid 2+ months of training that took over my weekends and kept me almost completely alcohol free (save for a birthday night drink and a few on a Sunday evening after my longest run) and lost me about 8 pounds (guesstimating but around there.) My plan was to let my body rest from working out for the Monday-Friday after the race and do an easy run this past Saturday, then take Sunday off to have a week off from any long runs. I walked 4 miles with Brenda and her brother the day after the half, about 3 miles last Tuesday plus a little upper body lift, maybe 2-3 Wednesday and then nothing Thursday or Friday. I wasn’t feeling anxious about it until Friday, so I woke up Saturday and had a great workout.

 

A super hot and sweaty 4 mile run followed by an “8 minute arms” workout posted on Sometimes Healthy Living Blog. Great little burn from those 8 minutes!

I had barely any appetite all this past week and felt like my clothes were pretty loose. I think I definitely lost extra water weight after the half and then from not working out this week. When I did eat last week it wasn’t exactly quality or very clean, but it wasn’t overboard either. I figured with a week off from working out AND this semester being over, I’d be able to reset my body with extra sleep but that did not happen. It was the worst week of sleep I’ve gotten in years! Between allergies and travel, my body was out of whack and now it’s Monday and I’m beyond exhausted. Ugh!

So I’m just a ball of blah with a side of PMS. Not a good combo. But at least from all my nerd-runner reading, I know there is a definite blue period following a big race like a half or a full. And you may be wondering, am I considering a full? There is a full/half choice in my future this fall. The half is a no-brainer, of course I want to run it. It’s near my hometown in a beautiful part of upstate NY and it’s supposedly a very flat course. The full is $10 more than the half. The training for the half wasn’t too time consuming during the week (just some 3,4 milers) but a full training plan? Not that I have much of a social life these days anyways since I don’t love to drink anymore, but it’s such a commitment not to mention so harsh on your body. But I want to cross a full off my bucket list at some point… I’ve just always hoped it could be the NYC marathon! #DreamOn

On another note, I spent most of my weekend at work (thumbs down) but then the other part was spent with Brenda (thumbs up!) Saturday night we took over her boyfriend’s Upper West Side apartment while he was out of town and used it to… lay on the couch in the air conditioning watching TV and eating mexican food. Shhh don’t let him know how wild we are! Brenda introduced me to a Mexican food gem on the neighborhood called Comida Economica. We weren’t super hungry so we just ordered 1 taco for us each, some chips with pico de gallo and avocado cornbread. We got CACTUS tacos and besides kinda just looking and tasting like grilled green peppers, they were delicious. The food was super fresh and I can’t wait to eat there again!

I’m planning to go home after work tonight and just relax, and reset starting tomorrow since I will be off work the next two days. I am counting the seconds until my Ikea futon/bed is holding me tight.

For now, I leave you with a picture of me looking extremely exhausted (told ya I am) with the 2nd love of my life (1st is Chris Meloni duh) Detective Nick Amaro from Law and Order: SVU. He was casually walking up 58th street at 8:45 AM last Thursday as I was walking down it, and I of course yelled his (TV) name and he laughed and agreed to take a picture. Actual conversation that happened:

Me: “Great. Of course I look like shit for a picture with you.”

Detective Nick Amaro a.k.a. Danny Pino (real name): “You DON’T look like shit.”

He seriously emphasized the “don’t” so I can only take that to mean that he fell in love with me and wants to marry me soon.

 

Love you and your randomness, NYC.

Have you ever felt the post race blues?

If you’re an SVU fan (if not I can’t be friends with you) ; Stabler or Amaro?!

Binghamton Bridge Run Half Marathon

I cannot believe that it’s already been a week since my first half marathon! Part of me is even still riding the ridiculous runner’s high 7 days later My review will explain more but overall this race was the best race I’ve done thus far. I think it was because it was in my hometown, I got to run it with my best friend, and our families and friends were able to be there to support us since usually when we race in NYC they can’t. My fueling options were pretty ideal for my first half, my anxiety was through the roof (but not in a totally bad way) and I certainly learned I need to hydrate myself more, but let’s get into the recap! I had to make the point that almost nothing in my life has caused me to lose my appetite, but the anxiety of this race was one of the first. Not exactly ideal when you need to take in a good amount of calories to properly run 13 miles!

Saturday afternoon my mom and I headed to the expo for the Binghamton Bridge Run.

It was small and exciting, but sadly I didn’t recognize anyone in there so we were in and out in less than 5 minutes. I don’t have a picture of the swag bag but it was one of those little drawstring knapsacks with a reusable water bottle, stickers supporting Boston, and a bright yellow tech t-shirt that sadly was made for a Barbie. Lesson learned, do not order a small when you don’t know the material of the shirt. No biggie!

After speaking at the Weight Watchers meetings that morning, I was feeling so great but since I was obviously a little nervous I had major butterflies in my stomach that lasted alllll day which left me with absolutely no appetite- something that’s only happened to me about 4 times in my entire life. I choked down some oatmeal with biscoff spread melted on around 11 AM. Yes, even biscoff wasn’t appetizing to me but I took one for the team and ate it anyways. Lunch was 2 pieces of pizza from one of my favorite hometown pizza places, Tony’s. My mom had gotten a speidie from Lupo’s and gave me part of just the sub roll that had gotten soggy and saturated with the speidie seasonings, a.k.a. the best part of getting those subs! If you’re from upstate, you know why that soggy bread is so delicious. Brenda and I got a little bit of candy at Wegman’s, but a much smaller amount than normal. I had a few chocolate covered peanuts and 3 mini rolo’s. It wasn’t until many hours later that Brenda, my brother and his girlfriend settled at Panera Bread for a late dinner. Absolutely nothing sounded good except for a bagel and a baguette. Unfortunately they wouldn’t give me eggs on the bagel (another restaurant mystery to me, it’s not like after 11 AM their eggs just disappear from the kitchen?!) so I got the veggie sandwich on a whole grain bagel and a white baguette with bbq ranch to dip. I didn’t eat most of the veggies or apple (too much fiber) but the bagel and baguette seemed to be the perfect fuel, leaving me not at all stuffed (something you do not want to be the night before a race) but also not hungry an hour later. I ended the day with just about 2000 calories and a little over 300 grams of carbs. Not too bad for having to force it all down!

Sleep that night was basically non-existent. I just simply can’t sleep well when I have anxiety!

Wake-up call: 4:45 AM. Sadly, that isn’t different than my wake-up time for my normal workouts before work!

I foam-rolled, drank a tiny bit of soy iced coffee but just couldn’t get it down. I was feeling extra nervous because you don’t want to change anything on race day, and I’m used to drinking a glass of iced coffee before a long run. I drank some water, foam-rolled more, thankfully was able to go to the bathroom (yes.) and got changed to go pick up Brenda!

Pink has never been my color til recently, now almost all of my workout clothes are pink!

My brother was great and up at the crack of dawn to drop Brenda and I off. I ate a banana with a little PB in the car and 1 GU chomp and we roamed around the starting line for awhile just waiting to get things going! We were able to see one of our teachers from high school who is a great athlete and trained harder than us even with injuries! And one of our awesome friends Adrienne!

It was such a beautiful morning. Perfect temperature. Great people. It was a rare moment that I felt proud to be from my hometown

Finally, the race started and while we technically had no real time goal our whole training season.. I knew we had at least a 2:30 in us. Based on our long run paces that were consistently between 10:50-11:10, we could manage it but probably not faster because upstate NY is a higher elevation than NYC. And boy did I feel it. My breathing was pretty bad the first few miles but Brenda didn’t let me get negative and pushed me through the first half of the race. The first 6 miles definitely flew by, and I believe we took our first GU chomp right around 6. It was right around then that we also took a little pee break behind a gas station. One huge flaw in this race- LACK OF PORT-A-POTTIES. That took about 1 and a half minutes so I’d like to think our time would have been even better had we just peed our pants. Ya live and ya learn. I really don’t remember too much about the second half of the race… I think it was at 8 miles when I took my 2nd GU chomp, then when I tried to take the 3rd a bit later I had to spit it back out. The 9th mile was brutal. Riverside Dr. is essentially a total uphill in the direction we were going, and I was starting to feel dehydrated. We decided to stop for a a few seconds and stretch because both of our knees were really hurting, and my left foot and ankle started to feel super janky. Maybe 5 minutes later we stopped again to stretch, only for about 30 seconds both times, and I think it was the difference from running uphill to downhill that really hurt our knees.

Right before mile 10 was the biggest hill of the race. We were most likely running slower than we would have walking, but we refused to walk. At the top of the hill was a water station, and I was ready to puke so we we stopped and I downed 3 cups of water. I wish they were real full cups, but they were slightly bigger than dixie cups- a.k.a. not enough. The 10 mile mark was right there and we silently approached it knowing the last 3 miles were about to be brutal city. We were no longer talking much, and once we hit 11 miles, we were in mileage territory neither of us had been in before!

Halfway through mile 11 I got a gigantic gas bubble in my upper stomach/chest area and tried so hard to burp it out while running, but it was stabbing me and my breathing was that of a 90 year old in need of an oxygen tank. I stopped for a second to bend over, but started right back and figured I would just puke if need be… luckily a few minutes later I burped it out, loudly enough for everyone around to hear and laugh. Sorry guys! The last mile and a half were obviously awful and we felt like our bodies were falling apart. I dry heaved the last 10 minutes, until we finally turned the corner and saw the finish line with huge groups of people. My brother and Megan were so awesome and made us big signs!! Coolest thing ever. Our parents were right near the finish, and we gave it our all and sprinted. I literally felt like I was floating in the air and running 100 MPH for that last 7 seconds. We crossed the finish line in 2:29:15.

A picture couldn’t describe us better!

I love this girl to death.

I have never felt exhaustion like that in my life! But SO. PROUD!!!! Proud of myself, yes, but so proud of Brenda. I love that we were able to train together and I got to see her push herself and get into higher mileage that seemed so daunting in the beginning of our training. We kept each other motivated and I hope I can convince her to do more halfs with me Love you B!

And yep… think I caught the half bug. ‘Cause I’m certainly dreaming of my next one!

What was your first half marathon experience? 

Weight Watchers & Before Pics

Whew… it’s been a crazy week and a half. Sorry for the lack of posts, but it started with the beginning of finals week for my classes, then hopping on a bus at 11 PM last Thursday to head upstate for almost a week where I had one of the best, exciting and relaxing times off of work that I so desperately needed! This may be lengthy but at least it’s full of pictures!

Friday: After getting into Binghamton at 3 AM, I slept til 9-ish and headed out for a 6 mile run. I had just run 3 miles Thursday night before getting on the bus, and knew 6 miles 2 days before my first half may wreck my legs but I sort of had no choice.  I decided to rent a car for my time there (now that I’m at my old age of 25, I can! Woo!) and my only way to get to the car rental place was to run. I guess technically I could have walked, but I wanted to get there in about an hour so I ran!

It was HOT and I quickly remembered there is a pretty big difference in the elevation between NYC and the mountains of upstate NY. I’m semi-exaggerating, but it was a lot harder. Friday night I went to dinner with my brother and his girlfriend, and one of our great friends Jordan. We had dinner at TGI Fridays where I carbed up with a black bean veggie burger and sweet potato fries. We then headed to get bubble tea (iced coconut milk black with honey no sugar) , another source of carbs for me, and hung out in the parking lot with a soccer ball. It’s those kind of theres-nothing-else-to-do-in-this-town nights that make me miss living upstate!

Saturday: Saturday was an early wake-up time so I could begin the greatness of this weekend. I was honored to be asked to speak at 2 Weight Watchers meetings by the woman who changed it all for me. I joined Weight Watchers a few times in high school and always had success, but would stop going to the meetings and gain it all back (and then some.) My mom and I would go on Saturday mornings and the woman who led the meetings was named Heidi. She has a contagious energy about her and she sparked a light in me 8-9 years ago that ultimately led me to success. Although it took me a few tries and years later, I finally lost the weight I needed to and started viewing food and exercise as an important part of life.

At the beginning of each meeting, I shared my story and how Weight Watchers was the stepping stone for me. Due to an extremely hectic schedule during my weight loss (I worked 3 jobs and was a full-time online student) I wasn’t able to attend the meetings, but MAN- they are so extremely helpful and motivating. I was able to stay for the first full meeting and was in tears for the whole thing. I forgot the amazing energy and 100% support and love of complete strangers that you feel for those 45 minute meetings. It’s so real and honest, which I am huge on. There’s no talk of foods being ‘bad’ and they stress the importance of keeping a normal life- one which includes cake, pizza, champagne. Just in smaller quantities If you are having trouble losing weight and staying motivated, I highly recommend taking a stab at Weight Watchers. They are always running promotions and it’s not a commitment of any length if you don’t want it to be. It completely changed how I saw food and exercise and trust me- I ate pizza, cake, and champagne all throughout my weight loss and continue to do so! Weight Watchers is truly not a diet, and a great leader like Heidi will stress that. She even broke down the thought patterns and things that “dieters” say compared to those who are accepting that this must be a lifestyle change to be effective and long-term.

Heidi went above and beyond by presenting me with a certificate of accomplishment for losing 100+ pounds. Even though I didn’t follow the WW program for my entire weight loss! She is an amazing woman and I am still elated from how speaking and motivating a group of people made me feel. Also included was an awesome coffee mug with a great quote, and a cute little celebration cake!

It was truly the happiest I’ve been in such a long time. The group of people were all so different but we all shared the same common problem and were there to fix it. I never thought I would have the ability to make a room full of people cry inspired tears!

One of the main points she touched on in the meeting I was able to attend was the stigma of the ‘before’ picture. She held hers up and explained that she has kept it on top of her fridge for over 20 years, as a constant reminder to never venture back to that weight again. But what she admitted is that every time she looked at that picture, her thoughts were so negative. It was “ew” and plenty of other negative thoughts about the woman in that picture. But what about the fact that the woman in the before picture, is the woman who had enough courage and strength to come to her first Weight Watchers meeting? What about that woman who decided her health and future were important enough to her to get healthy and happy? That woman was strong, determined, and amazing. That woman is who she still is today. Just 70+ lbs lighter! It really got me thinking about my reaction to my old pictures and how I always feel the need to make a joke before showing anyone or before posting it on Instagram with a wise-ass caption. I feel sometimes grossed out by looking at them, and then remember that sometimes (honestly, often) I still look in the mirror, 100 pounds smaller, and still feel grossed out. It’s something I have to deal with daily, to know that I am super fit, strong, and healthy but still have extra skin in places that cover my muscle definition. You can see and feel the muscles in my arms, but underneath there is extra skin that doesn’t seem to want to tighten up. I have awesome definition in most of my legs, but extra skin on my very upper thighs that luckily only one person other than me and my gynecologist gets to see. Haha! I can feel strong abdominal muscles, but most of my extra skin is on my stomach- meaning NO ONE gets to see that (with the lights on, anyways ). It is by far my most embarrassing  self-conscious place on my body and I have absolutely learned to live with it, yes, but in no way should we be grossed out by ourselves! Heavy or light! We are really so much more than our outer appearance. I have always been a friendly, upbeat and fun person and have always had a good amount of friends because of that. I’ve had the ability, both when I was heavy and thin, to make people smile, laugh and feel better about themselves. My weight never determined that, me as the person that I am determines that. So why do I degrade that girl 100 bigger, with the same heart that I still have? If anything, my heart has grown with compassion, forgiveness, and love. No more beating her up.

21st birthday (4 years ago)

5 years ago, summer 2008

The other aspect of the ‘before’ picture she talked about was related to her husband, and how he fell in love with her when she WAS her before picture. It rang so true to me because of John and I. Having been together most of the last 7 years, I can say that he has always been my #1 supporter in EVERYTHING I do, but he never acted differently towards me when I lost weight. We are closer now than ever before just from our willingness to work on our relationship even when it’s been really bad, and never giving up. I don’t think he’s anything special BECAUSE he was with me when I was heavy, and I really hate when people try to put an emphasis on that. He loves me for the person I am and that person is still (mostly) the same crazy, annoying, loud, outspoken person that I was 100 pounds ago! Okay, I may be questioning his love for me with those adjectives. He doesn’t get a gold star for loving me at my heaviest. He definitely gets a gold star for always believing in me even when I had no faith left. And hearing me talk about food and exercise 24/7. And loving me even though I’m always missing a toenail from running, and I’m generally sweaty or exhausted from said running. He has such a big heart and I am so lucky to have him and even more lucky he has stuck around through everything I’ve put him through- let’s just say it’s a lot, mmkay I’m so thankful for him because I don’t think I could have done it without him and his constant support.

New Years Eve 2008

OC, Maryland Summer 2010

OC, Maryland 2010

Visiting NYC months before we moved- Fall 2010

NYC- January 2011

Our birthdays this year- March 2013

I also could not have done this without my family and their constant support, and my amazing best friend Brenda. Not to mention the hundreds of people I just know, not even close friends with, who have supported me via Facebook. Support is something you absolutely need while losing weight. If you find you can’t get the support you need from friends and family (which why would you choose unsupportive friends? Kick them to the curb! Trust me, I had to with a few!) Weight Watchers is such a great choice because of the huge support group you are stepping into.

Tomorrow I will have my half marathon recap up!!

Have you ever tried Weight Watchers? Were you successful? If not, why did it not work for you? 

Jillian Michaels: Maximize Your Life

Well yesterday was a fantastic day to say the least! My mom’s amazing friend Joyce got us tickets to see Jillian Michaels on her current tour, Maximize Your Life. If you know me you know I LOVE Jillian. Like MAJOR girl crush on this lady. I’ve done many of her workout dvd’s with amazing results and I listen to her podcasts on runs. I’ve never followed The Biggest Loser very consistently, although I did watch most of the past season. Truth be told, I don’t support extreme weight loss the way they make the contestants do it or Jillian’s in-your-face attitude with them. She did explain some of the show yesterday and now that small negative part of her is now cleared up for me!

Jillian is so real and raw, and the entire time you feel like you’re having a one-on-one conversation with her. She broke down the ‘secret’ to weight loss and definitely made us all laugh. She literally said.. “Eat less. Move more. And yes, I’ve made millions off this concept and I feel at some point I should stop taking your money for it!” I loved this, because as a weight-loss guru myself I am asked my “secrets” all the time. I always laugh at this question because people expect me to really have some kind of secret and are often shocked to hear I did it the only way there is to do it LONG-TERM. Well except for the eat less part… Maybe my secret is choose eating clean cause you can have mammoth portions Haha.

I admit I knew most of what she talked about regarding nutrition and fitness, but I loved that she educated the audience on figuring out your BMR- Basil Metabolic Rate. NOT to be confused with BMI- Body Mass Index. AKA the chart that tells me I’m almost obese at my current weight, and that I was just barely healthy at my lowest weight. NOT that! BMR is a great tool and I encourage you to google “BMR calculator” to really see how many calories it takes JUST to stay alive. After that, google “active BMR calculator” to figure in your activity level. This is something I’ve done within the last 6 months and it’s made me really realize that 1200 calories at my height and body type is a recipe for a damaged metabolism. I truly believe now that once I chose to start eating more when I was at my lowest weight and had lost my period, my body was so shocked by it that it stored the extra calories as fat and I gained weight back really quickly. I wasn’t eating junk and really had no idea how much more I should be eating and it was before I knew what BMR was.  I take accountability that I allow too much junk in my diet the past year, but I know my body is still adjusting to eating at my BMR also.

I also love that this tour is not just about weight loss. She speaks for about 2.5 hours total, with a little 15 minute break, and only the first half is geared towards weight loss. The second half was so much about getting the most out of life, breaking some rules (legally of course), following your dreams and not always doing what we feel we “should” do. She is so open and shares so much of her own life and past with you that you feel very connected to her. She keeps it 100% real, no gimmicks and very honest.

I feel like I’ve been “stuck” for over a year now, being really lost with what I want to do with my life and how to do it. She obviously didn’t cure me of that but I feel like I have some extra motivation to really look at my life harder and harsher. I know I want to be involved in health and fitness as my career in some capacity, just still not sure how. One thing I can say is that I have wanted to be a motivational speaker since middle school, and seeing Jillian yesterday sparked that passion in me. The only difference is in middle school I had no clue what I would motivate people on, and now I know.

She still has more tour dates, so if she comes near your town I would highly recommend seeing her! 

Tuesday Tens!

One of my new favorite blogs to read is a cute little gal whose blog goes by the name Olive to Run. How adorable is that name first off? Her posts are inspirational and so fun to read! She includes plenty of hilarious meme’s about working out that never cease to crack me up. I liked her “Tuesday tens” post today and decided to include some of my own! Make sure you check out her blog and do one of your own “Tuesday tens!”

Ten Workouts I Love

• Running, obviously! I’ve been increasing my weekly mileage while trying to stay injury-free
• Walking. Once the weather warms up I always want to get outside and walk when I can!
• Spin class. Sadly I haven’t been in a few weeks due to crazy amounts of school work at night
• Jillian Michaels Ripped in 30- I try to do it 1-2 times a week, however I plan to do it more once school is over!
• Vinyasa Yoga. Ahh sadly haven’t been in months and again will increase that once school is over and have more time.
• Kickboxing. REALLY haven’t done this in probably 2 years, but I miss it and I’d love to get back into it.
• Zumba. I used to go every Wednesday night and it was the flattest my stomach has ever been. Miss it.
• Swimming. I SUCK royally at swimming but that’s also because I’ve never been taught properly!
• Random squats & push-ups in the bathroom at work throughout the day. True story. I’ve noticed a difference in my thighs and shoulders, ya’ll!
• Chisel class at CRUNCH. I took it once and was sore for a week. Again, no time right now.

Ten Foods I’m Diggin’

• Wheat bran, as discussed in my previous post. I’m experimenting with it for protein mug cakes, hopefully will have a good recipe soon!
• Justin’s vanilla almond butter. Ohhhhmygosh so good. But at $10 a jar, it’s a special treat!
• Coconut egg-white wrap/tortilla from Amanda’s blog. Still loving it!
• 2% plain greek yogurt. Mmm SUCH a difference from nonfat, way way better!
• Special K Red Berries cereal w/ unsweetened almond milk. My latest dessert
• GU Chomps in strawberry. This is so random, but I feel like such a runner when I take these during a long run. These are like adult gushers! 
• Quest cookie dough protein bars. Soooo good.
• Mac ‘n cheese pizza. I’ve only had it at pizza place here in NYC that I love called Uncle Mario’s in Hells Kitchen, but it’s been on my mind since I had it almost a month ago. RIDICULOUSLY good but crazy indulgent. A.K.A. #ThisIsWhyIRun
• Jalapenos. On everything. And hot sauce. Ahhhh I can’t get enough!
• Earth Balance coconut peanut butter. I highly doubt another PB will ever replace this!

Ten Products I Can’t Live Without

• My Mizuno Wave Elixir 7′s. They changed my life in terms of running (almost) pain-free. I just ordered the 8′s and have to say I am not impressed. They feel a lot different to me!
•  Not Your Mother’s dry shampoo. I wash my hair twice a week, so I use this every single day. To my knowledge no one can tell that my hair is constantly dirty, so this shit works  
• Jergen’s Natural Glow daily moisturizer. I use this every morning and love how it gives my face a hint of tan without overdoing it! I have super dry skin and this moisturizes it perfectly with no oily residue. 
• For the days I do wash my hair, I almost always use Shimmer Lights shampoo. It keeps my blonde bright and vibrant while still giving it moisture. For a conditioner, I swear by Aussie 3 minute miracle. Keep in mind, only washing my hair twice a week allows me to use a deep conditioner each time and works for me.    
• Runkeeper App. I once had a Garmin and got realllly sick of trying to find satellites in-between the buildings in NYC. Literally, ain’t nobody got time for that. Runkeeper app works fast and efficiently enough for me, as I am not elite athlete or trying to win races. I just like to know the distance I’ve gone and the pace. I like that I can play my music and have my GPS going at the same time, all on my iPhone in case I have an emergency and need to call someone.
• Rimmel London Scandal-Eyes mascara. I am the most low-maintenance girl you’ll ever meet in terms of make-up. Like, I hardly wear it and when I do it’s just bronzer and mascara. This mascara is amazing and makes my eyelashes crazy long and full! 
• That bronzer I use when I so rarely wear make-up is California Tan’s bronzing powder. Love love love it.
• My gigantic brown Marc Jacobs canvas bag that serves as my gym bag. I’ve had this baby for 4 years and I hope I never lose it. 
• The best red nail polish ever, which is what my nails are almost always painted with. Wet n Wild Red Wild Shine. $1 and works perfectly.

 

What are your Tuesday Tens?

Great News! (and some IBS)

Saturday’s workout: 3.5 mile run + 10 push-ups (don’t judge… gotta get my arms back in shape starting somewhere!)

Today’s workout: 11.15 fricken miles. 

Today marks my longest run I’ve ever done. It felt amazing, mentally and physically. Now that the weather has warmed up I’m getting my motivation back and loving every minute of being outside in the sunshine. My next goal: remember to buy sunscreen and wear it before every run. Finally at the age of 25 I decide it may be a good time for sunscreen. Hard to believe my first half marathon is just 2 weeks away!

I wasn’t sure when I wanted to share this, but I have some exciting news that pretty much makes me so happy and proud of myself I could cry (and have.) My weight loss story will be featured in the September issue of Women’s Health this year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is such an honor I can’t begin to describe. This past Tuesday I had my photo shoot for my “after” picture, and felt like a (D list) celebrity for a hot minute. I won’t share the outfit I chose because I want you all to go out and support the magazine and purchase the issue in September! But here is a peek at the outfit I did not choose and one which I will be returning today. Unless of course someone argues that I look good in purple pants and a top that creates a worse looking stomach than I already have/wide hips that I do NOT have!

Eek, okay- enough on the negative self-talk. When I turned 25 last month I vowed that I am no longer treating myself like that! Let’s all work on this, mmkay?

After my photo shoot (I can’t stop saying that. I feel ridiculously cool!) I treated myself to some sushi. I haven’t eaten in sushi in almost a year! Not for any reason other than I just rarely crave it. I found a great spot in Hell’s Kitchen a few blocks from the West Side Highway where my photo shoot was done, called Ageha. I definitely recommend it if you are in the area. I ordered 3 rolls for my hungry belly (3 mile run earlier in the day and not enough time to eat before the shoot) which included spicy tuna, spicy salmon and avocado & peanut. The avocado & peanut roll, in the middle,  stole the show for sure!

It had actual chopped pieces of peanuts. So good! Sushi is the one food I actually can savor and eat slowly, so I lingered for awhile alone. But honestly… eating alone at a restaurant isn’t my favorite. I’d much rather have company! Anyways, now I’m craving the avocado and peanut roll like a pregnant lady. Hello, 11 mile run hunger!

I’ve been refueling my runs with this wonderful concoction that also has helped me tons with my IBS problems, which have been astronomically awful lately. I’m playing around with foods to see which ones seem to bother me and I’m finding some of my favorite foods are doing it. They also happen to be treat foods, which makes me even more sad. Blah, I’ll elaborate on them in another post once I’ve done a little more testing!

Egg white or protein oats base:

• 1/3 cup old fashioned oats
• 3 big spoonfuls of wheat bran
• 1/2 tbsp chia seeds
• 2 large egg whites or 1/3 scoop protein powder
• 1 banana
• cinnamon/stevia to taste
• enough water or milk for desired consistency
• Toppings: PB&J obvs!

So the main helper in my stomach woes is wheat bran. It has a weird texture and I’ve never eaten it alone, I always mix it in with oatmeal. I use Bob Red Mill’s brand and usually buy it from GNC, which carries it for less than $2! It’s basically an amazing source of fiber and gets things moving pretty quickly, if you know what I mean. You also do not want to overdo it on fiber/bran! The type of IBS I have causes extreme constipation and I basically live with a constant stomach ache. Literally, when my stomach doesn’t hurt it feels so weird and foreign to me. But not being able to poop for days/weeks at a time sucks REAL bad and I’ve spent my whole life figuring out what does and doesn’t work for me. This also changes apparently because things I could eat before (healthy or not) I can’t eat now without being in pain. Stress is a huge factor as well. So staying consistent with eating my wheat bran oatmeal each morning, a greek yogurt a few times a week at least, cutting back on sugar/candy, and eating absolutely nothing fried or greasy is the only way I can keep the pain to a low level. If you are suffering with this type of IBS as well, I’d love to know so we could talk about it and share tips! I’ve met very few people who have this type of IBS.

Can’t wait for the Sunday work day to be over so I can eat, foam roll and relax!

What is the longest distance you’ve ever ran? 

Do you deal with any stomach/digestion problems or syndromes?

Boston <3

My heart goes out to those in Boston. I was just finishing up a 6 mile run along the West Side Highway and turning to walk back when my brother sent me a text asking if I saw what was happening in Boston. Instead of taking the subway home, I walked for an hour and tried to wrap my mind around what was happening. Of course my mind was on the bloggers I knew that were running it, plus my friends who live there. Once I got home I spent the rest of the day and night in bed watching the news, just trying to make sense of what had happened. Here it is Friday, where one suspect is dead and the other escaped in a hijacked car.

I’m gonna go out on a selfish limb here and say that while all attacks that involve killing or harming innocent people are disgusting acts, this was personal to so many of us who are runners. I’ve read so many articles and watched CNN so much that my eyes hurt, and most especially my heart hurts. This article stuck out the most for me, and I invite you to read it and let it take you on the emotional path it took me. My favorite quote from the article:

“And for so many of us who take to the roads, paths and trails, the essence of running is freedom; our freedom to step outside, stretch our legs and fly along the ground wherever we choose for as long as we please. It is a celebration of human ability and excellence. It is a struggle. It is a triumph. And this was an attack on all of that.”

I think about how much running has changed my life over the last 3 years and that alone brings me to tears. Others have run for most of their lives and still get so much joy out of it. I can’t imagine the rest of my life without running, and I hope I am lucky enough to continue running 3-4 days a week until my legs, lungs and heart can’t physically do it anymore. My heart breaks for those who lost their legs or life during the explosion. Having not only running taken from them, but life in general.

I can only hope that with time our world gets stronger and more loving. Hate needs to stop.

Food.

With my last post featuring a super healthy way to cure a pizza craving, it’s clear that I am trying harder than ever to get creative in the kitchen. Most of the time, I eat the same things 5-6 days a week and never really get bored. But sometimes you just need to mix it up a little! I’ve recently been having a love affair with 2% plain greek yogurt. The 2% makes the most ridiculously huge difference in taste and flavor! I can actually eat it plain with no added sweetener. I had never tried using greek yogurt in a savory way, and boy have I missed out. First thing I tried it savory on was a salad bowl from Chipotle.

I get the salad with no rice or beans (don’t really like either) and now no chicken thanks to my stomach So basically, $10 for a bowl of lettuce, onions and pico de gallo. Add on $2 more for guacamole. It’s a rip off, but I was desperate. The addition of the 2% greek yogurt and hot sauce cured my insane craving for Mexican food! I also had a small bag of Popchips new tortilla chips for the full Mexican food experience. Yummmmmmm.

Next up- a loaded sweet potato. Again, mexican inspired because it’s been my biggest craving lately! I cut a sweet potato down the middle and microwave it for about 5 minutes, then top with shredded cheddar cheese, jalapenos, hot sauce and a big spoon of 2% greek!

Along with a jalapeno egg-white omelet and some green beans with ketchup, it was one of the best dinners I’ve put together in awhile!

Now that the weather is warming up, having a cold dessert is something I crave most nights. A bowl of Stuft Mama’s almond milk ice cream is so low calorie that you can eat it every night and load it with toppings! Check out this post of hers for her recipe. I add 1/2 a frozen banana and vanilla stevia drops to mine, and I don’t use the sugar-free maple syrup at all. I bet that would be yummy if you wanted to create a maple flavored ice-cream though!

Topped with fat free Reddi whip, PB2 sauce and cinnamon. And a baked cookie dough Quest bar, which ya’ll need to try ASAP. It’s the only flavor I personally like, and also the only one that doesn’t bother my stomach. Amazing treat!

This is obviously not something I myself created, but Whole Foods sure answered my foodie prayers.

I LOVE fig and dates, and this is the best flavored greek yogurt I’ve ever had. I usually stay away from the flavors because of the high sugar content, but this is fine once in awhile!

As for my workouts- Ran 10 miles with Brenda on Sunday morning, walked 3 miles and did some squats on Monday, and yesterday I ran 4.5 miles and walked 3 totally uphill carrying groceries. My shoulders are burning today! Today I’m feeling a little unmotivated but I’ve also been cramming homework since I woke up. I’m going to hopefully fit in a short little run and a level of Ripped in 30 before meeting John for dinner later. Always time for a fun NYC dinner out, right?

But yeah… really can’t wait til the semester is over in a few weeks!

What is something yummy and/or creative you’ve eaten lately?

25 + PIZZZZA.

I’m officially the ripe old age of 25. I mean, I have been for 11 days now which just shows my lack of blogging. Boo! But, good things have been happening and I’ve been keeping busy with my half marathon training, work and school. Oh, and eating of course. But you already knew that

Quick bday recap- it was perfect. I ran 5.25 miles in the morning, worked all day then met up for dinner with my favorite people and had delicious pizza at Uncle Mario’s in Hells Kitchen. My brother and his girlfriend came for the night to celebrate with us and it was so nice. We sat and talked and laughed our butts off for a few hours, and were in bed by 11 PM. I kind of love not being too wild and crazy anymore. Next morning, John and I met up with my brother and his girlfriend for breakfast before they went back upstate. The day after my birthday happens to also be John’s, so I had some fun stuff for us to do planned. We walked around Central Park for awhile, ate dinner at his favorite 5 Napkin Burger then headed to Caroline’s on Broadway for a comedy show.

Besides this one picture I decided to stay unplugged for the weekend and it was a nice break. Sunday morning was spent running 8 miles with Brenda. It was a really tough one for both of us, due to eating a ton of crap all weekend and we kept it at 8 instead of our planned 10 for the day. We barely made it to 8 and vowed to stop having cheats Friday, Saturday AND Sunday. It makes a huge difference in energy levels, for sure. Afterwards we trekked to Brooklyn to move her into her new apartment, which involved driving a U-Haul and moving all her boxes and mattress ourselves! We got it done in a couple of hours, then John came to pick me up and take me to Patsy’s Pizzeria in Chelsea for another birthday celebration. This was one of the top 5 restaurants I’ve been to here for pizza. Definitely check them out if you are visiting!

Oh and if you were wondering… yes, I am completely obsessed with pizza. I wouldn’t give it up if I had a gun to my head. I treat myself to it every weekend (normally only once, but a birthday weekend calls for twice But of course I crave it EVERY DAY! Based off an amazing wrap recipe I’ve been eating like crazy from my new favorite blogger and Instagrammer (@amandamclark) (www.clarkpharm.blogspot.com) I turned it into a little pizza that could be eaten every day- heck, twice a day with it’s low calorie count!

I present to you- the egg white pizza crust. (Recipe  from ClarkPharm blog)

• 3 large egg whites
• 1/2 TBSP coconut flour
• Seasonings: oregano + garlic powder

Blend ingredients together or whip them VERY thoroughly in a bowl. You’ll need to whip them for a couple of minutes with a fork and a spoon (I alternated so I could make sure the coconut flour was totally mixed in, it tends to stick to the bottom and sides of the bowl.) In a heated up sprayed pan, pour mixture in and make sure it covers the whole pan like an omelette. Let cook on low-medium heat for 2-3 minutes, then flip and cook on other side for 2-3 minutes. I usually flip this once more to cook for a few more seconds to ensure it is firm. Then, transfer to a foil-lined cookie sheet and add toppings. I added 1/4 cup marinara sauce, sprinkle of cheddar cheese and jalapenos. I baked it at 350 degrees for a few minutes then turned on the broiler for 1-2 minutes.

It comes out obviously very thin, but i was able to hold it just like real pizza. It’s very low in calories, so along side a hearty salad this is a delicious way to cure a mid-week pizza craving. Or, every day pizza craving if you’re like me

Are you obsessed with pizza? If not, what is your food obsession?