Friday Faves 1/17/2014

I cannot believe we are halfway through January already. I've been super busy finishing up grad school applications (eek) and getting a bunch of errands done. I'm on Day #3 of my Skinny Limits juice cleanse, and it's going surprisingly well. I am totally eating an almond butter and jelly sandwich tomorrow though.  Thank goodness it's Friday, and I'm back with some of my favorite things from this week. 

Five Friday Favorites

Favorite event of the week: Run for Meg-#megsmiles

Meg Menzies, a VA runner, mother, and Boston marathoner, was tragically struck and killed by a drunk driver this week. It's so awful and tragic but it's nice that the running community is so supportive. This Saturday, 1/18/2014, there is a #megsmiles event where you can dedicate your run or walk to Meg. Remember to be grateful for all you have..  More information can be found on the facebook event here. 

Favorite easy recipe pinned: Buffalo Chicken Mini Meatloaf from PaleOMG

I pin pretty much every recipe I see from Julie's blog  because even though I don't eat strict paleo, all the recipes look delicious! I love a good meatloaf and this recipe looks super easy and different from what I usually make. I'll probably substitute ground turkey when I make it this weekend because that's what I have in my freezer! 

Favorite article read this week: 37 Things Only Runners Know from Thought Catalog

Some of the articles or lists from Thought Catalog are really opinionated and one-sided but then there are ones that I absolutely love and relate to like this one.  Most of this list about runners is applicable to me, especially during marathon training season. And yes, my laundry is mostly sports bras and exercise clothes.   


#23 is especially true right now because I'm on a personal spending freeze for the month, haha:"23. You may not spend money on gym membership, yet the amount of races you sign up for leave you weeping for what once remained of your paycheck."

Favorite quick workout: Rock Those Abs

I have been pretty much neglecting my abs so I'm going to try to add in some quick core work a couple times  a week. I love this one from Jess that involves plank variations and only takes a few minutes! 

Favorite new kitchen tool: Vegetable Spiralizer

I know I mentioned this in my Friday Faves last week, but I finally got a chance to use my spiralizer earlier in the week to make some zucchini noodles to go with dinner and now I'm in love. It was really easy to use and the zoodles were delicious and boyfriend-approved. After spiralizing the zucchinis, I just sauteed it in a pan with some olive oil and garlic for 5 minutes and served it. 

There are a bunch of recipes on the Inspiralized blog all dedicated to a spiralizer so I think I'll try using sweet potatoes next with this recipe! If you also have a spiralizer check out my quickly growing Pinterest board dedicated to it!

[EDIT}: I've been asked multiple times now where I got my spiralizer. It was a Christmas gift but I asked for this one because it had been recommended a bunch. It was ordered off Amazon here. Let me know if you start spiralizing!
Have you ever used a spiralizer and have any good recipes? What's your favorite thing that runners only know?

Vega #OneChange

I think Vega nutritional shakes are awesome. That's why I was super excited to help Vega out with their #OneChange campaign. With a new year starting everybody wants to make big changes, but sometimes starting small will last the longest and make the biggest impact. Vega's campaign is about making, you guessed it, #OneChange to turn old habits into super habits!

They have a couple of #OneChange personas to relate to and to identify one area where you could improve your nutrition in the new year. The choices are: 

• The breakfast skipper
• The weekend splurger
• The number cruncher
• The serial snacker

While I almost chose the weekend splurger I ended up relating most to the serial snacker. It's mostly the snacking on the weekends that gets out of control anyways! During the week, I am great throughout the day until I get home from work and feel like a bottomless pit. Before dinner and before bed I get in a snacking mode where I feel really hungry!

Serial Snacker: Yes, you can snack and feel good about giving in. Your stomach talks to you all day (it never shuts up!) Your bag or desk drawer is strategically stocked with a wide assortment of get-me-through-to-the-next-meal morsels. You struggle to turn down a slice of office birthday cake—hungry or not. And the 3 PM growlies can lead to pre-dinner nachos or amidnight snack over the kitchen sink.

Is that you too? If I'm going to eat a snack, I've been trying to be conscious of having something that will have enough protein to keep me full and also contribute some nutritional value to my diet! I have decided to incorporate Vega One smoothies as a snack as an easy #OneChange to my diet. This weekend and one night last week I made a smoothie with the Vega One chocolate nutritional shakes I was sent. The chocolate flavor was so delicious and satisfied my sweet tooth!

Protein powders and bars are a tricky thing because a lot of brands out there have processed ingredients and aren't loaded with many actual nutrients. I have purchased Vega products before including the vanilla chai nutritional shakes because I like that the products are plant-based and mostly natural. The shakes come in five flavors: natural, chocolate, french vanilla, berry, and vanilla chai. If shakes aren't your thing, Vega also makes Vega One Nutrition bars! 

  I love that the nutritional shakes are truly an all in one product so I don't need to add tons of extra ingredients to them. The Vega nutritional shakes include 15 g of protein,6 g of fiber Omega-3, probiotics, vitamins & minerals, antioxidants, and even greens so you don't have to go adding spinach to your shake! along with being free from dairy, soy, gluten, added sugar, and artificial flavors or colors a.ka. pretty much all the bad guys that you don't want to eat or ingredients you may have to avoid!

Yes I eat smoothies out of bowls with a spoon. Of course I top them with mini chocolate chips and sprinkles, too. 

Today I am sharing with you one of the smoothie recipes I came up with this week with my chocolate Vega One nutritional shake. It contains all my favorite things-bananas, nut butter, and chocolate!

I use unsweetened almond milk in my shakes and always not 2 tbsp of nut butter :)

What persona from the Vega #OneChange campaign do you most relate to? What is one small change you want to implement this year or maybe just this week to start small?

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post through the Sweat Pink community with Vega One. I was sent a box of shakes to try but was not compensated in any other way. As always, all opinions are my own.

5 Tips for Your First Spin Class...ever or just in a while!

I decided to switch up my workout last night and thought I'd share! A new indoor cycling or spinning studio just opened up in Baltimore called REV Cycle Studio. Since I don't have a gym membership anymore I have been itching to take some group fitness classes, especially with the cold winter weather we have been having. With their introductory savings of 30% off class packages for the month of January (use coupon code REVITUP), it seemed the perfect chance to try out some spinning classes! I made a reservation for a class last night-choosing the 45 minute over the 60 minute class to ease me back into spinning. 

I have only taken spin classes about a dozen times in my life with the last one being over a year ago so I was feeling unsure of how the class would go. The bikes had cages on the pedals so it was okay that I didn't have fancy clip in cycling shoes (although the clip ins are recommended if you plan to take a lot of classes). The class ended up being great, and I left a sweaty mess! The studio is a beautiful space, and the class wasn't very crowded which was good for my first ride back on the bike.  We even were handed refreshing cool towels after the class was over which felt amazing. The class was full of high-intensity speed intervals mixed in with longer blocks of climbs. I forgot how great of a workout spinning is! If you have considered trying out spin, or like me it's been a while since you've taken a class, I've come up with some tips and reminders for when you decide to get back in the saddle!

1. Wear comfortable clothing. I find I'm most comfortable in form-fitting or compression capri pants and  a moisture-wicking, looser tank or short-sleeved shirt.  You are going to be sitting on the bike so capris or pants are a no brainer, and I like a top that is going to be comfortable and dry when I am sweating a lot during class. 

2. Bring a towel and water bottle. Unless you have the amazing ability to do an intense workout without breaking a sweat or getting thirsty, bring these. I always leave a spin class a sweaty mess if I've been working hard!

3. Arrive early and get comfy! Arrive early so you can find your bike and make all the necessary adjustments to it. I'm no spin expert, but I know that if you stand on the left side of the bike the saddle and handlebars should be around hip height, your legs are fairly extended, and to leave enough room so your knees aren't hitting the handlebars when you are standing up on the bike pedals. Ask the instructor if you need help getting set up!

4. Your butt will be sore the next day. I knew my butt was going to be sore the minute I sat down. I never feel too comfortable on the bike seats, and my butt and lady parts always take some adjusting to sitting on the bike. Apparently you can get padded cycling shorts that help if you plan on being a spin regular!

5. Talk to the instructor. If it's your first spin class or you have no idea how to adjust your bike, let the instructor know! It's going to be awful if you are uncomfortable on the bike or don't know the lingo during class. 

Couldn't stop at five-here's a bonus tip! 6. Go at your own pace.  It's fine to be motivated by others during the class to keep pedaling as fast as you can during intervals or adding just as much resistance as the girl next to you, but know that it's okay to go at your own pace. As long as you are pushing yourself, it doesn't matter how your speed or resistance compares to others-nobody else is looking! Last night my bike was closer to the front of the class so I could really focus on the instructor and my workout instead of what others around me. 

Disclaimer: I am not a personal trainer or fitness professional, just fitness enthusiast! As always, consult with a doctor before beginning any exercise routine. Consult with a certified spin instructor before taking a class!

Have you ever taken a spin class? Do you try different workouts in the winter?

Five Friday Faves- All over the place

Last night I had a great time meeting up with some ladies to watch the Toned Up show on Bravo about the Tone it Up duo-I think it's going to be a weekly event! I've been fighting a cold this week that seems to continue to make me feel worse each day. I've been upping my intake of tea, apple cider vinegar, and green juice so hopefully I can kick this before the weekend is over!  Continuing with my thinking out loud rambles from yesterday, today I've got some of my favorite things from the past few weeks to share with you, especially from the holidays!

Five Friday Favorites

Favorite Christmas gift received: 

cookbooks and more running arm sleeves

Arm sleeves were one of my favorite running items from 2013 so I'm excited to get lots more to wear as a layer in the winter and for when it finally hits spring! The pink Nathan sleeves are especially great because they seem to be a high quality,include little pockets, and have reflective strips on them. I also saw so many great recipe sneak peaks from the 21-day Sugar Detox Cookbook that I can't wait to try some recipes out!

Favorite healthy snack: 

Rhythm Superfoods Pineapple & Coconut Kale Chips

I was lucky enough to win one of the Purely Elizabeth holiday giveaways on their Facebook page a few weeks ago and was sent some goodies from Rhythm Superfoods. I tasted some of their kale chips at Expo East, but this flavor was new to me. I tried to pretend I wasn't going to eat the whole bag in one sitting, but after my first bite of these delicious Pineapple Coconut kale chips I knew that wasn't happening. They had great crunch and the perfect touch of sweetness to satisfy my post-dinner snack craving!

Thinking Out Loud -Pizza on the Brain

Hello, today I'm participating in Amanda's Thinking out Loud Thursdays since I've got all sorts of random thoughts floating around in my head.

1. My juice cleanse was pushed back to next week due to delays with shipping because of the polar vortex and the juice being perishable. It has thrown my week off, but I don't mind eating lots of food for another few days! I'm also really looking forward to pizza on Friday. 

2. Speaking of the polar vortex, last night was the first night in a few days where I didn't sleep in two pairs of socks and a hoodie over my pajamas. It's supposed to be warmer this weekend/next week which has me really excited to run outside in the next few days. 

3. I really need a haircut. I just need to find time ASAP because all the layers have grown out, and I've given up trying to do anything with it. I think I'm keeping it right above shoulder length for now but don't know what style to get-I'm easily bored with my hair. 

I should probably repaint my nails which are sporting some badly chipped New Year's Eve sparkly polish.  I've also started taking Delta Labs Advanced Hair, Skin, and Nails formula so hopefully that continues to help keep my nails from chipping and help my hair to look healthy and awesome. I've been taking biotin to help with my peeling nails but this formula but this formula has 28 other vitamins, minerals, herbs, bionutrients, and antioxidants, including biotin to support healthy hair and nail growth. Sounds great and can't wait to see results!

As always, you can use the code "BREATHEBLOG" for $5 off any Delta Labs order! 

Charm City Run Race Series Deal and a Detox

Today I have a great race deal to tell you about if you a Baltimore area runner! I was planning on running at least the Charles Street 12 Miler Race which I ran last year again, but ended up signing up for the Sole of the City 10K and the Shamrock 5K (last year's recap here) too because I couldn't pass up this great offer! And I'm a crazy running lady. Of course.

If you run Charm City Run races there is a new packaged price for the newly created B3 race series which includes the annual Shamrock 5K on March 16, the Sole the City 10K on April 12, and the Charles Street 12 Miler on August 9. Also right now (unless it sells out!) there is a deal on LivingSocial for the B3 series where you are paying only $150 instead of the $200 regular series price. Registering for the B3 bundle includes all the premiums for each race and a special B3 finisher's medal and Under Armour backpack. What an amazing deal-I'm glad I hadn't registered for the races yet. 

 I've done all three races previously, and they are all in different parts of the city but all fun! It's a great way to bite the bullet and sign up for some races to make those New Year's fitness goals a reality!

You can get to the LivingSocial deal right here and find more information about the B3 series from Charm City Run here! 

I read on the Charm City Run Facebook page that if you have registered for one or two of the races already you can email Charm City Run to get in for the B3 series if you want to run all three!

2014-Let go of the negative and embrace the positive

Well the holiday season was a whirlwind as usual so I'm still out of sorts. It's making it harder to get back into the swing of things because I went back to work on Thursday after being off for over a week and then got a snow day on Friday which makes this Monday morning even more unbearable. Especially because I had a lot of lazy days sleeping in way late in there. 

Today I am sharing my new year's to-do list with you. Super original, I know. I call them goals because I think the word resolution gets a bad rap, as in you might completely forget about your resolutions by the time February rolls around. Also having a set of goals to work at seems much more feasible to me rather than these big ideas I may have that do not come with some sort of game plan.  I was definitely inspired by these 5 goals which are awesome. I separated my goals by what the are mainly attributed to-mind, body, or soul. I will definitely try to write these out and post them in my bedroom so I can revisit them. I find it easier to focus on one at a time so 12 goals for 12 months in a year is perfect!

I have seen people come up with themes for 2014 which I like a lot. I think it's good to reflect on what you want to accomplish in a year. My theme would be to be happy. That includes doing things I want to do, not feeling bad declining invitations or things that take up my time which don't make me happy, and also allowing my self to be happy. As always, let go of the negative, breathe, and happily allow the positive to enter.  I'm a list person at heart though, so here we go :)

MIND

1. Re-learn French. I was a French minor in college and still a total francophile. I'm going to get on that Rosetta Stone business and re-learn how to speak French again because it's a skill I don't want to lose!

2. Read 14 books.

3. Try 1 new recipe a month from a cookbook. I have all these cookbooks lying around so I want to actually make an effort to tackle some of the more time-consuming and fancy recipes in them!

4. Live in the now. Planning for the future is important, but I want to focus on seizing the day and not waiting for some perfect time that will never come to do things I want to do. 

SOUL

5. Show more affection. I think it's important to make an effort to keep in touch with people and the people you care about know that!

6. Travel more.

7. Be bold-take chances without fear.

8. LOVE myself and how I look, flaws and all. 

BODY

9. Eat more greens!

10. New marathon and half marathon PRs. Always trying to improve!

11. Improve pullups (unassisted finally?) and string together double unders.

12. Work hard at feeling good in a bathing suit this summer. Superficial and pretty much on every female's resolution list, but feeling good in a bathing suit a.k.a. the least amount of clothing you are usually wearing in public is a huge self-esteem booster. 

If you don't believe in yearly resolutions or goals at least remember this- keep spreading love in the world and you are awesome so dream big!

Do you have any New Year's resolutions or goals? How many cups of coffee do you need this Monday?

Year of Running 2013

Amanda aka Miss Zippy is hosting a blog linkup for the third year in a row,with a 2013 year of running recap, so I thought I would join in because it's been a pretty awesome second year of running for me.  

I have been running pretty leisurely and less frequent the past few months but decided to get out there this morning and go on my last chilly run of the year!  It was a great time to reflect on the year that is ending. 

I accomplished my goal of 13 races in 2013 (not all races had medals of course!).

What was your:

Best race experience?
The Nike Women's DC Half in April was a pretty great race,but I think my first full marathon at the Baltimore Running Festival takes the cake. Four months of training and lots of sweat and tears went into that race. I hit my exact goal of 3:45, and it was the hardest race I've ever run. I know that it has mentally made me stronger. I hit those points where I didn't think I could do it. In the end I could do nothing but smile. I couldn't really walk for a couple of days, but that feeling of pride and accomplishment was worth it. When I had to push through all that self-doubt, insecurity, and pain during the race it was so much more emotional than I could have imagined. I'm ready to tackle 26.2 again in 2014. Bring it (hopefully!) Chicago Marathon.  
 


Best run?
This is a tough one because all my runs seem to blur together. This summer when I ran my first 20 miles ever during marathon training I remember feeling great. I was on that runner's high afterwards, and that's when I knew I could run a marathon. It was a hot summer Saturday morning, and I ran pretty much all over the entire city of Baltimore with a couple of my training buddies. Besides some quad tightness, I felt good. I was smiling the whole walk home with a big iced coffee.

big smiles after 20 miles!

Best new piece of gear?
I love running sleeves! I also just received three new arm sleeves for Christmas so they are not going away anytime soon. I'm always that person that is cold in general so I have a tough time judging what to wear for temperatures. I love wearing arm sleeves for races because they can be rolled down if I get hot. I even had GroovyBaby wonder woman arm sleeves to help power me through my marathon! They are my favorite layering piece for cold weather running right now too. 

post Nike DC Half in April

Best piece of running advice you received?
My marathon training group coach Deidre always told us "do not go out too fast" which has stuck with me because it pretty much dooms your race. I try to be cautious in the beginning of longer races.   

Also she always reminded us that "If marathons were easy- everyone would do them.  Invite the pain, accept it, and then find something else to occupy your brain." I think that idea of accepting pain and then finding something else to think about or a mantra to repeat is really important during marathons and half marathons.  I tell myself to just keep moving or focus on scenery which helps during rough patches of runs.