My Month of Yoga + Future Plans

How do I feel after engaging in regular yoga practice this month? I feel like a changed person. I realize how dramatic that sounds. But it's true. I set out at the start of the month to take three yoga classes a week at the studio where I got an introductory pass for just $40. I stuck with it and attended each and every class. I have just one left on my pass, which brings my total hours of yoga this month to nearly 24 hours. A full day of yoga.

I'm almost certain that's more hours of yoga than I've done in the past two or three years combined.

What I've noticed after all of this bending and stretching is no surprise. My strength and flexibility are greatly increased. Having practiced yoga since age 18, whether intensely or not-so, as well as having a childhood of gymnastics and dance . . . I will say that I've always been sort of "good" at it. About halfway through the month, it was like a switch flipped and all those years of work had come back. I can do splits again. I can put myself into wheel with ease. And it all feels really, REALLY good.

There are also things I just, well, can't do. I used to get so frustrated. But something has changed in my practice. I don't care so much about striking photo-worthy poses just to strike them or to show off. I am all about alignment and doing it the "right" way now. I have much more satisfaction with the journey rather than the destination. Maybe it's being older and having less ego as I approach the mat. The mind-body connection makes more sense now. It's everything.

Whatever the case, I cannot afford to keep up at this pace with studio classes. In February, I plan to scale back to two classes a week, which will be approximately $20/week or $80 for the whole month. In March, track season starts, and I'll be lucky if I get to one studio class a week. So, I figure it's worth the investment. I'll be supplementing with home practice to try to keep up with three to four hours of yoga week. My favorite YouTuber is Yoga with Adriene.

I also have a 5-year plan of sorts.

Eeek!

I hesitate to share because I always have this fear I won't actually do whatever it is I set out to do. I also haven't had a plan in quite a while, so it's both exciting and scary to be thinking this way. I'd like to take a teacher training by age 40 with the hope of deepening my own relationship with yoga and possibly teaching a few classes on the side. Basic trainings in my area can be completed in 10 full weekends for around $3,000. Why age 40? If we have another child, I don't see starting the process for a few more years. Plus, with Stephen's coaching schedule, it's not feasible, but that may change in the future.

Yoga + running. That's been my harder balance to strike. I've been running only between 12 and 15 miles a week this whole month. It feels great. But it leaves me feeling conflicted. I think part of it has been the weather. Part of it has been the new focus and feeling guilty to take even more time to exercise (there's only so much time, right?!). I don't know where I am as a runner. It's still this big part of me, but I have absolutely no desire to race or train at high levels. I think when spring comes around, I'd like to be back up at running 20 miles a week, though.

So, that's that.

Are any of you guys yoga teachers? Or are you thinking of becoming one? I have two favorite instructors. One of them is my age and the other is in her mid-60s. I figure if I obtained my certification by age 40, that's still a whole career ahead of me!

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Running: 6 Reasons I Don't Race Anymore

Many of you have told me you started reading this blog back when Stephen and I were running all the time. You loved the running and racing tips and tricks I used to write. There are definitely a good number of posts on here dedicated to the novice and even advanced runner. (I didn't write those advanced ones -- Stephen did!) Regardless, some of you have asked over the years why the running part of the blog is somewhat quiet.

And, really, I suppose I haven't addressed it directly. Or maybe I have and just don't remember. In short: We had kids, so there's that. And Stephen started coaching both cross country and track for his high school. That takes a lot of time during the week and on weekends when we used to be training. Do we still run? Heck yes. But -- and I can only speak for myself here -- I have many reasons why I've stopped racing in formal events.

1.) Cost

First and foremost, we have a family now (did you know? LOL). You guys know how much I write about our budget. With adding little ones and choosing to work from home, we've taken a financial hit. Not in a way where we cannot afford basic necessities. But running can be an expensive hobby, as much as we'd like to pretend it isn't.

There's the shoes. I only get like two pairs a year, but Stephen needs more because he wears his out quickly. (BTW: I wearing these Nike Free Distance shoes lately -- they are probably my favorite shoe I've ever had. If you're interested, let me know and I'll do a review of them for you!)

Racing is -- yup -- yet another cost. In fact, this morning I got slightly inspired to run the local half marathon. Mostly because it would give me an excuse to run 13 miles next weekend. But it's $80. Not the most expensive. But I immediately thought about how that could buy two takeout meals at our favorite restaurant. Or a week's worth of groceries at Aldi. And if you don't think running impacts your grocery bill, I don't know what to say. We eat a lot if we're training high mileage.

2.) Time

I hate to use my kids as an excuse, but you simply have less time with a family versus being single. I know moms who get up at 5AM and work out. Or who work out late. I get up at 5AM to work these days, so that's out. (Working from home with just one child is a piece of cake. Two or more? Nightmare. I'll write more about this soon.) I often work after the kids go to bed. I can jog with the stroller (here's how to start), but it's much harder so I only do it a few times a week. And with Stephen gone so much, our family time is at a premium.

Time is one reason I've put the marathon training on hold for the time being. I started it up when we weren't in a coaching season. Sunday long runs were awesome. Now that I'm alone with the kids almost Monday through Saturday, Sundays have become sacred. We both still run, but I'm less inclined to go over 10 miles. And I'm OK with that. I actually love feeling energized on the weekends. When I used to do back-to-back 10- and 20-milers, I'd need to basically lay on the couch a lot.

I guess as a sub-reason, races aren't the most convenient things either. With nursing, I'd have to pump. I don't like pumping and Eloise doesn't take bottles. I also don't think my kids want to be dragged to events. Maybe ever so often, but not weekly or several times a month.

3.) Flexibility

There's something beautiful about shedding the rigidity of a training plan. It makes you feel so much less guilty for missing runs if you're sick, injured, or whatever else. It lends to a more balanced life. Of course, having a bit more discipline would probably have me a bit trimmer and fitter -- but I'm favoring moderation in all things these days.

If the weather is really crappy -- whatever. I'll run later in the week. If I'm just not feeling it, I'll take an hour-long restorative walk. Or do yoga. Or go see a friend. The thing I'm not doing is fretting about missing my miles because I've got a race coming up. I remember trying to trudge through with bronchitis to meet my weekly mileage and getting even sicker as a result. Or feeling really cruddy because my legs were like dead weights. I know that pain is change, but I'd rather just feel good, be active, and be slightly less bad-ass.

4.) Desire

Yeah. My actual desire to run races has certainly waned. I was never one to do them to collect race swag or metals or shirts. Honestly, I have never really enjoyed the act of racing. It was more of a compulsion to get better times. That's OK. It doesn't make me any less of a runner. There's a certain thrill that comes with achieving a new milestone, like a half or full marathon. I've been there and done that. It doesn't thrill me anymore, so the desire to chase that feeling isn't there as much.

I think it's awesome when other people do events and I can tell they are getting a huge emotional boost out of it. I could take or leave that feeling. Of course, it's nice to feel like you've DONE something. But I ran two half marathons in March on my own (well, with my buddy -- but we weren't in an organized race) and still felt pretty awesome.

5.) Motivation

I guess this goes with motivation, too. I'm not motivated with my running to achieve a PR right now. I would like to get faster, but in the years before we had Eloise, my fitness took a dramatic turn. Having multiple miscarriages can really do a number on the body. I kept active throughout it all, but with being pregnant, not, having surgery, etc. -- my race times just aren't what they used to be. You'd think that would give me more motivation to "get back" . . . but it doesn't.

I'm cool with chugging along between 8:45 and 10 minutes per mile, depending on the distance and hill factor. Maybe this summer I'll find myself doing some repeats on a track. Maybe not. I think my motivation these days is much more mental. I get a lot out of just logging the miles and taking the time for myself.

6.) Zen stuff, etc.

Which brings me to being a Zen runner. I won't lie -- I do track my times lately. It's more about tracking my total steps (more on this soon!). I would say in the past, though, I more often than not did not wear a watch on my runs. I would rather map out the distance in Google maps ahead of time and finish. I get so much from just doing the run. I don't really care so much about the stats. Sometimes I do. You know how it is.

Running is my happy place. I do it to do it. I do me. You do you. But if you don't want to race, that doesn't mean you're not a "real" runner or nonsense like that.

* * * * * * * * 

Anyway, the biggest and best reward for all my years of running came this weekend. (This is about the photo above.) Totally unprompted, Ada came up to me as I was lacing my shoes and asked if she could go running with me. She got all dressed and we ran a mile together in a little under twelve and a half minutes. The whole time, I could tell she was so proud of herself. We finished, she gave me a high five and was just BEAMING with excitement to tell Stephen all about it.

And that's all I really need!

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Leaf Nature Review + Why I'm Returning

Hopping on to give you guys that review on the Bellabeat Leaf Nature (I have the Rose Gold edition) fitness tracking device. I had very high hopes for this gorgeous piece of smart jewelry. I've wanted it for a few years and -- yes -- I bought it with my own money. So, this review is unbiased.

You can wear it as a necklace, bracelet, clip it on to your clothing, etc. I even bought some cute accessories for it on Etsy!

But here's the deal.

And why -- sadly -- I am returning it:



PROS 

• It's beautiful
• You can wear it many different ways
• It tracks you steps, sleep, breathing, menstrual cycle, etc.
• Its app is relatively user-friendly 
• Did I mention how pretty it is?!

CONS 

• Leaf Nature cannot get wet. (The Leaf Urban can, however.) 
• Doesn't allow you to override for running steps (see video for explanation)
• Has issues with tracking sleep
• Breathing tracking can be random
• Clunky in that you have to always mark in app how you're wearing it
• Customer service is just OK, not great

WHY I'M RETURNING

Ultimately, I decided to return this tracker because there are others out there that do more for a similar price point. If the Leaf's app gave me the ability to override steps to account for the miles I've run in a day, I may have kept it. But it doesn't. Instead, I spend my days frustrated that I cannot meet my step goal on the screen when I've obviously already met it in real life. And customer service is vague about when developments will be made.

In the end, the Leaf Nature is a nice fitness tracker that looks gorgeous . . . but it just doesn't have enough power for me.

Do you have the Leaf? I'm majorly sad to return!

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Fitness + Stuff

I posted a photo of myself on Instagram yesterday after I had completed a tough 28-minute workout. You see, I started the BBG program by Kayla Itsines way back in early October. I should be on week 10, but I got through week two, and that's when Eloise's sleep started falling apart. Between that, many kid sicknesses, and my own bronchitis (that's been lingering almost three weeks), I've not been doing much running. Or working out, in general.

(I still need to do a post on our basement gym!)

I feel tired, weak, and my clothes are tighter than I'd like. And I even mean my LuLaRoe leggings. Seriously. Now that my coughing is getting (slightly) better, I'm trying to get back into the groove -- slowly, but surely. I started with week 1, workout 1 of BBG yesterday. It kicked my butt! I ended the day with a 30-minute walk around the neighborhood to look at Christmas lights. It was a win for me, fitness-wise.

Today I am hoping to run 3-4 miles. We'll see. The cold air hasn't been agreeing with me. If not, we dusted off the old spinning bike, so I could see myself doing some static cycling while watching an episode of Fixer Upper. Tomorrow, I'll do BBG workout number 2. Many of you asked for my opinions on the program, but I'd like to wait until I've been doing it longer.

In short: I think it's really effective. I love the format, the length, and the overall goal of strength, etc.


Switching gears: We have booked our summer vacation as of this morning!

We'll be staying at this little house in Cape May right near the downtown. It's the same place we stayed in way back in 2015. Instead of being smack in the middle of my two-week wait this time around (ending with two stark negative pregnancy tests taken at the house -- boo), we'll have sweet Eloise with us. She'll be 13 months by then. That's wild to even think about.

We will also be spending time with Stephen's family the following week in nearby Wildwood Crest. It's like the best of both worlds, especially for the girls. Ada absolutely loves the beaches. I merely mentioned Cape May this morning, and she was listing off a long list of things she wants to do. Top of the list? Riding her scooter on the sidewalks straight to the ocean.


Last for today: We are certainly decking the halls! I will be sure to share how we're getting festive over here soon. If you're still in the beginning stages of decorating and cozy-ing up, be sure to check out my post from last year on the matter. You can also see an awful photo of me wearing hair extensions and too much eyebrow pencil. Yikes.

Happy Tuesday, friends! I'll be back this week with my final gift-giving list (for the ladies), a Christmas bucket-list, and maybe even a new crock pot recipe. I also recently went to Aldi and -- whoa -- they have SO MUCH new stuff I want to tell you about. Veggie burgers, in particular. Very good.

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Running After Baby // Week 14

It's been a while since I've written specifically about exercise. I'm doing a lot of it, despite what the number on the scale might tell you. (But that's another post for another day!)

(Old photo alert!)

Accomplishments:

I don't think I shared my 5K time from last month's race. Obviously I wasn't in any sort of racing shape. Still, I crossed the finish in 25:15. Not too shabby for two months postpartum. That's basically 8:08/mile. My ultimate goal with the 5K is to get under 22 minutes. My PR is something like 22:03, but I know it will take a while (and lots of track workouts) to get there.

Another huge win for me was running an 8-miler two weekends ago with my running buddy Ariana. This past weekend, Stephen and I ended up getting into a fencing project at home, so I actually only ran like 3 miles on Sunday. Next weekend, though, I'd like to tackle between 9-10 miles with my friend. It felt really great to run long again.

Really great.

Goals:

In my last running after baby post, I wrote about how I planned to run a 10-mile race in November. Unfortunately, I didn't realize at the time that the date of that race conflicts with one of Stephen's cross country races. A paid gig trumps paying to run in my book. So, I don't have a race on the calendar right now.

Regardless, I'm still following Hal Higdon's Half Marathon Novice plan. I'm currently in the middle of week 5, though my long run is a bit farther than is on the plan. I'll probably just aim to increase the distance of my longest run until I reach around 13 miles, hopefully by November. I like being in half marathon shape, whether or not I plan to run for speed, because I find that distance is pretty manageable to knock out on a weekend without cutting too much into family time.

For cross-training, I do kettlebells 3x/week for about a half hour. I do Barre3 online 2x/week for about half an hour as well. I also take some walks to round things out. I do yoga to decompress at least once a week, but I'd love to find time for daily practice, even if that means just 10 minutes.

Other goals include getting a bit speedier with my general training pace. I run between 8:30-9:30 for most of my training runs. I'd love that to be more between 8-9.

Big Shift:

The biggest difference in my running these days is that I do most of it before the sun comes up. Stephen leaves for work relatively early. So, unless I set my alarm and nurse Eloise, I'm out of luck. Our treadmill is acting funky, too, so we need to get that looked at. I can usually fit in 3-5 miles in the morning, which is all I really need to do during the week.

I may even dare to say I'm enjoying being a morning runner. It's basically the only time that belongs to me during the day. It's the only time I find that I have quiet, which is important to me. So, yeah. I'm digging it. I know my body feels more sluggish in the morning. That's something I need to work on -- warming up.

Right now, I'm most excited for fall running. The leaves are already starting to change. I may drive out to the country and do some runs when the colors are wild and pretty. I love listening to the wind go through the trees and re-fueling with cider and donuts.

What are you most excited about in your fitness routine?

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Body After Baby // Week 6

You guys! I am on the highest of highs right now. I just finished my first fast workout in what seems like forever. I had given up on hard running when I was experiencing recurrent pregnancy loss. So, I'd say that was a year and a half ago? I thought somehow running with much effort had something to do with all that. I mean, I was always looking for something to blame (and my doctor assures me the running had nothing to do with it).

EXERCISE

Fast forward to now -- 6 weeks postpartum -- and I woke up feeling great. But I didn't feel like doing my usual 3-mile slog through the neighborhood. It's hot, sunny, and I'm kind of bored with it and need to get back to my old routes. Today's solution: You might remember that we bought a treadmill this year. I looked up some interval workouts and found this one on PopSugar.

I feel like it's the perfect mix of gentle and challenging to get back into the swing of things. (Somehow I didn't follow it exactly and did a lot more of the 7-8 MPH -- oops!)

FOOD

Going dairy free has had an interesting side effect. I'm only a couple days in, but the food choices I've been making overall have been much healthier. I've been consuming a lot more protein and less carbs. I've been choosing more fruits and veggies and shunning more desserts.

I will probably break from the dairy free just briefly this weekend when we visit my parents in Wellsboro. It's my birthday, and I would like to indulge in some cake and home treats I only get on occasion. (There this food truck that has THE BEST grilled cheese!)


I do wonder, though, for those of you nursing mamas who went without dairy: Did you notice a change in your supply? I feel like I've had slightly less milk the last few days. But I realize it might also have to do with reaching 6 weeks, which is when things regulate a bit, right? I'm trying to add more fats to my diet regardless. An avocado a day . . . :)

CONFIDENCE

My body hasn't changed much in the last several weeks, but I don't really mind it much. It took a long time to get pregnant, a long time to cook baby, and it'll take a long time to reach "normal" again. And I know from having Ada that "normal" will be different anyway. I actually felt like I got fitter in some ways after I had her despite not having my body look like it did when I was younger.


Exercising and eating well is making me feel so great. We've been sleeping better, too. Eloise had been doing some 5-6 hour sleeping stretches while on vacation. Since we've returned it's been more like 4 -- but it's all good.

So, that's week 6 in my postpartum fitness and body journey. I'll be back tomorrow with reflections from vacation (as well as some essentials for taking a newborn to the beach).

Happy Wednesday!

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Food, Fitness, Family

FAMILY

Friends and family, I don’t even know where to begin thanking you for your incredible support after yesterday’s post concerning baby #2. Your personal stories, confidence, and love is completely humbling and so much appreciated. At this point, we are seriously torn and hoping Monday’s appointment will give us resolution either way. It’s the not knowing that hurts the most. I very badly want to be one of those beat-the-odds stories, but I’m also just grounded in reality after everything we’ve been through in the past.

Otherwise, we’re trying to go through the motions of life and keep things normal. A few of you asked if Ada knows what’s going on. We made the mistake of mentioning a baby early on (it took so long to get to that point, I was elated!), but we decided to keep it like “well, the doctor needs to tell us if there’s a baby in mommy’s tummy” -- so that’s what she understands now. She asks often. She’s been amazing, wiping tears from my eyes and cuddling with me during some tough moments. I am trying my best to stay strong and hold myself together for her benefit, though.

It’s Wednesday already, so only five or so days until we know. I think at this point, if things aren’t going to go well, I’m hoping for things to resolve naturally on their own. Like I wrote, I’ve been very sick -- way worse than I was with Ada -- and I’ve read that morning sickness can continue long after a pregnancy isn’t viable. What a cruel joke that would be. I’m honestly a little scared of going through a true miscarriage since my chemical pregnancy was more like a late period. Anyway, only time will give us answers. Thank you so much again for everything.

FOOD

I’ve had an extremely limited list of foods to go on lately. I’ve been eating Kix cereal like it’s my job. Choking down Siggi’s yogurt for some tart protein. Drinking ginger ale because sometimes it’s the only thing that works (those tiny slim cans are like medicine to me right now). Sorbet bars. It was like overnight I couldn’t eat vegetables anymore, though I’m trying to sip a green smoothies most days of the week.


And I’ve made lots of energy balls. I have a new recipe to share for a “cookie dough” variety, but right now I think I’ll just list the old favorites. I have made all these recipes multiple times. It’s great to have a batch in the refrigerator to grab for easy snacking.

• Chocolate Almond Butter Energy Chunks
• Cookie Dough Balls
• Double-Chocolate Granola-ish Bars
• Nutella Balls
• Cocoa-Hazelnut Energy Chunks
• Maple-Walnut Energy Chunks
• Marathon Chunks
• Chocolate-PB Energy Chunk
• Cacao Energy Chunk
• Runner's World Energy Bars
• Choc-PPB Energy BARS
• Chocolate Chunk Energy Cookies
• Nut Butter Energy Balls

FITNESS

Exercise is going OK-ish. I’ve been really tired and the weather had been so awfully cold (finally nice this week), so I haven’t been running as much as I’d like. And most recently, a good, long walk has felt way better than running or anything else. I’m at this point presently when I could care less about exercise to get fit . . . it’s all mental. I must admit it’s really hard to get so out of shape from my previous levels, but I simply don’t have the energy to spare right now.

I will run half marathons again. Someday.


Week #1: 270 min of exercise

M: REST
T: 40 min bike
W: 4.2 mile run
R: 4.2 mile run
F: REST
S: 60 min walk
S: 45 min Barre, 45 min x-country ski

Week #2: 265 min of exercise

M: REST
T: 30 min bike, 30 min walk
W: 4 mile walk
R: 30 min bike, 30 min Barre
F: REST
S: 4.7 mile run
S: 4.2 mile run, morning walk

Again, from the bottom of our hearts: THANK YOU.

Whatever happens, it’s so nice to have the support of you all.

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Food, Fitness, Family

FOOD

Ada’s follow-up went well on Friday, which I’ll delve into in a moment. One reason we sometimes like going to her specialist? We get to go to Syracuse, which is like major civilization to us. We always head to the mall and some other special spots on our way home, though this time around we had a time constraint so I could get back home for a doctor appointment of my own.

Anyway, this time our special stop was Trader Joe’s! Would you believe we’ve never actually shopped there? I’ve gone in a few times to buy a couple treats, but we haven’t live anywhere near one until they put one in up north. I guess it’s a good thing, too, since I spent well over $100 in a matter of 20 minutes.

Here’s our haul:

FITNESS

Permit me to complain a bit about the weather again. I’m not one of those winter wimps, but this is getting more than ridiculous and, well, painfully awful. I actually got tears in my eyes the other day when thinking about spring -- thanks, SAD. As you can imagine, exercise has been spotty lately without a gym membership (and dwindling motivation). This is the current weather I woke up to this morning -- along with another 2-hour delay for Stephen.

RIGHT?!


Week 1: 12 miles total -- sick at end of week after this day-in-the-life post!

M: 5 mile run, 10 minutes Barre
T: 3 mile run, 30 minutes Barre
W: 4 mile run
R: OFF
F: OFF
S: OFF
S: OFF

Week 2: 15.25 miles total -- frigid, snowy, and sucky!

M: 30 minutes spin bike, 10 minutes Barre
T: 4 mile run
W: 4.6 mile run
R: OFF
F: 30 minutes spinning bike
S: 3.25 mile run
S: 45 min x-country ski, 3.5 mile run

So, yeah. Not exactly impressive mileage. But I’m staying active using what I have to do indoors. You might not notice a lot of Barre stuff in the last two weeks. I took a little time off because my monthly subscription lapsed. But we signed back up for the whole year, so I’ll be doing a lot more of that soon. Especially since it’s still so awful to run outdoors.

FAMILY

We did get a nice “break” from the cold temperatures on Sunday, when it was like 30 degrees out. It felt like spring. I was singing in the streets. So, we piled into the car and headed to a local park where people run their dogs, sled, and cross-country ski. I couldn’t find my cold weather tights, so I’m wearing two layers of pants in this photo!


And are a few photos from our trip to Syracuse.


Ada’s appointment went well, but they didn’t really examine anything. We have an MRI scheduled for six months from now, and I think that’s the one I’m most anxious for. Apparently if things were bad again, we’d be seeing symptoms. However, her issue is one that could return. If all looks good -- we will graduate to yearly checkups for a while. We are hopeful that we’ll be able to move forward since Ada seems to be doing so well.

While we were at the office, we asked to get a copy of Ada’s initial MRI report, and -- though we’ve always had all the information -- we were shocked. I hadn’t dug right into the diagnosis and all its gory details, but Ada was so close to having some major, life-altering issues. I feel very fortunate we were able to get the diagnosis and surgery when we did before irreparable damage happened. We’ll still never know why, but at this point that feels irrelevant. I’m just thankful.

Hope you guys have a great Tuesday.

Don’t forget to enter the Udi’s Pizza Hut sweeps to win a $100 gift card!

Like what you just read? You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

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Food, Fitness, Family

FOOD

I get a lot of requests for portable + packable meal and snack options. I used to write a lot more about this kind of stuff when I worked my desk job. Eating well on the go is tough business. So, I thought I might try to bring some of that bake into the blog. This week, I’ll start by simply sharing what Stephen brings for snacks and lunch on a typical work day.

Like this:


I try to make grab-and-go stuff that we can all enjoy, which is why you see a variation of the Nut Butter Energy Chunks. I also always boil a dozen eggs each week because they’re super healthy and easy to eat on the run. And we’ve been making a lot of Avocado Egg Salad lately. Last, every Sunday I made a slow cooker soup. This week it was one of our favorites: Miso Split Pea Soup . . . with lentils in place of the split peas.

I’ll dedicate a whole post to Stephen’s lunches sometime soon.

FITNESS

Running has been tough in the last week due to snow and cold. I’m happy I’ve been sticking close to my 20 mile a week goal regardless. I’ve been leaning heavily into the cross-training I can do from home, which has meant bringing out the spinning bike, skis, and Barre workouts more than hitting the pavement.

(PS: Some of you are wondering what equipment is needed to do Barre workouts at home. I use a standard yoga mat, a set of 2 pound weights, a waist-high surface -- which is Ada’s trampoline, and occasionally a yoga strap. I’m considering purchasing a ball like the Barre3 ball.)


I love that I can workout indoors, but I am also getting sick of working out indoors. I’m at the point where I’d OK with running in the cold and snow, but I’d sure love just ONE 50+ degree sunny day a week. Or a treadmill so I could feel what it’s like to run in shorts again. I know I’ll be complaining about the summer heat soon enough, though!

Week 1: 21 miles

M: 5 mile run, 30 minutes Barre
T: 4 mile run, 30 minutes Barre
W: 60 minutes Barre
T: 4 mile run, 30 minutes Barre
F: 3 mile run
S: OFF
S: 5 mile run, X-Country Ski 30 minutes, 40 minutes Barre

Week 2: 15.5 miles

M: X-County Ski 45 minutes, 40 minutes Barre
T: OFF
W: 30 minutes spinning bike, 30 minutes Barre
T: 4.5 mile run
F: 10 minutes Barre, 2 mile run
S: 5 mile run, 30 minutes Barre
S: 4 mile run

FAMILY

I’m so excited for this week to be over.

No, really!


We had a great snow day yesterday, but Stephen actually has the first of his spring breaks coming up next week. A whole week off! We had planned to try and go somewhere on a mini-vacation, but due to some unexpected changes in our finances, we decided to wait a few months. Regardless, there’s a lot we need to cram in, like Ada’s 6 month neuro follow-up in Syracuse. We’ll turn that into something fun because we learned she won’t need a sedation MRI -- YAHOO! -- when I found out, I basically threw a party. We’ll probably check out Trader Joe’s, hit up the mall (Ada loves the ropes course), and go somewhere to eat. Simple pleasures.

Next week will also be the end of my two week wait, and regardless -- I just want it to be over. In a silly way, I’m hoping I might be pregnant before all this infertility testing starts. I mean, a girl can dream, right? Some of you have asked if I plan on sharing the news when I get a positive sign. I’m not sure yet. We could still have a long time to go, so how I handle it isn’t as important to me right now as just living day by day and keeping positive that it will happen.

Peace out, Tuesday!

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Food, Fitness, Family

FOOD

I made this awesome Roasted Cauliflower Gnocchi recipe for dinner last week.

Not so awesome? My photos. So much darkness.


I modified the recipe by using whole wheat flour. Then instead of homemade sauce, I used some store bought. I tossed in a good bunch of baby kale for good measure. We all loved the meal, and I can’t wait to make it again sometime.

FITNESS

I added Barre to my routine last week, and I definitely feel it in a great way. However, I’ve had some trouble balancing it with my running mileage. So, I think after this initial #OMGILOVEBARRE phase, I’d like to do three 30-minute workouts each week with another couple 10-minute ones sprinkled in. I tried a full hour Saturday but just couldn’t make it through after running.

So much core work. Ouch.


Week 1: 20.5 miles

M: OFF
T: 1 hour walk
W: 4 miles + 1 mile walk
R: 5 miles
F: 3.5 miles, 15-minute Body Weight, 2 mile walk
S: OFF
S: 8 miles

Week 2: 14 miles

M: 2 miles + 1 mile walk
T: Barre 30 minute + 10 minute workouts
W: 4 miles, Barre 30 minute + 10 minute workouts
R: 4 miles, Barre 30 minute workout
F: 1 hour walk
S: 4 miles, Barre 45 minute workout
S: OFF*

* I had planned to run my long run yesterday, but as I’ll write about in a minute -- sleep was elusive Saturday night. I took a nap instead and decided I’d wait to run around 8 miles today if possible. Let’s do this.

FAMILY

What a weekend. Those of you who have preschoolers know the whole nighttime struggle. The excuses, the stalling, and even the lies. Ada’s become quite creative with her techniques over the last six months or so. So, when she all of a sudden complained that her ear hurt Saturday night, we thought it was a farce. The fit ensued and we tried for over and hour to figure out fact from fiction.

Then I saw her wince.
It was almost imperceptible . . . but then it happened again.

We packed up the car a little before 10 to drive to the ER across town. Checked in with an overly tired kid in pain. That’s the quickest way get the VIP treatment. We tried everything we could to ease Ada’s discomfort, but she was crying and screaming, so they put us in a private waiting area. After several hours we saw the nurse and PA to find out she has an ear infection. Her first. I won’t go into all the gory details of trying to get her to take a huge dose of antibiotics at 1AM on an empty stomach, etc.

Eventually we drove home, got Ada settled, and all went to bed. My internal clock woke me up around 6:30. Yuck. I need to remember this when I pine away for baby #2. I’m just happy this girl is on the mend!


Those of you in the blizzard zone -- stay safe and warm. However, I can’t lie. I’m incredibly jealous! We haven’t had much snow at all up here the last two years, and I’m so ready for a crazy storm.

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Trying Barre Classes Online

I’ve been searching for something new and different to do fitness-wise besides running. We looked at some gyms over the weekend, but the only ones I would want to join are the ones with pools. My favorite cross-training is my slow, sad breaststroke -- by far. Too bad those gyms are expensive. And most of them are booked up with aqua classes for the older crowd during the hours when I could typically go (or when childcare is offered, preschool is happening, etc.).

Anyway, I do random workouts on Fitness Blender from time to time. Mostly yoga, body weight stuff, and barre. After mulling over whether or not I should delve into studio yoga classes (which are also expensive, though definitely worth it), I decided I’d try doing something online for a change. When I get a chance to workout besides my usual running, it’s either in the early morning, nap time, or after Ada’s gone to bed for the night. I don’t necessarily feel like dragging myself across town by that point.

So, today I signed up for a Free 15-Day Trial of Barre3 (check it out -- I’m not affiliated with this group -- they don’t even have studios in my area). I just completed a total body 30 minute workout during Ada’s nap and got a needed boost of energy. Since I’ve tried several rogue barre workouts in the past, I knew a bit of what to expect. Lots of tiny movements with tons of burn. I like how the workout incorporates some yoga, ballet, and Pilates movements, too. All the stuff I usually ignore.

There are several offerings of this type that you can find online for free and subscription prices. Here’s a comprehensive comparison I found with Bar Method and Barre3, if you’re interested in more specifics (because I’m still super new to it all). Of the two, I chose Barre3 because I’ve read reviews from bloggers like Emily or heard about it from friends + family who live near studios and regularly take classes. Oh, yeah. And also because it’s $15/month versus $35.

Right now my goal is to do 3-5 barre workouts a week (they have ones from 10 minutes to 60 minutes) along with 20 miles of running. I’m informally doing the 28-day challenge, too, since I like the idea of checking boxes to feel some accomplishment in my day. Plus, being prompted to do certain workouts is helpful when you’re trying to guide yourself from home. I am also looking forward to checking out a few new recipes to shake me out of this carb-craziness + funk I’ve been in.

Have you tried online workout subscriptions? 

I wrote a fun article about them for Wise Bread a couple months back, so you should certainly read it if you’re interested. They're a nice, flexible option if you don’t love driving to the gym or perhaps don’t have time during traditional hours to get your sweat on. I know a lot of people really like Daily Burn and even Gaiam TV, so I’d love to hear more about those if you subscribe!

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It Stops Today

I need to start taking better care of myself. I have completely let this TTC thing take over my life. What I have to show for it is a bunch of extra weight around my hips, thighs, and mid-section. This isn’t the “good” kind of weight people sometimes gain to aid with fertility either. It’s come from lots of sugar-loaded treats (compounded by Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas) and a sharp decrease in exercise. And much self-induced stress, of course.

Sure, I’ve gone up a couple dress sizes. Overall, it’s not horribly noticeable from an outsider perspective, but that’s not really the point. By any means. I worry I’ll continue to climb and climb because this is about way more than food. I am out of control right now. I am happy I can fully admit it, too, because it’s difficult to type out that statement for friends and foes to read, I assure you.

I’ll say it again: I cannot control the whole journey I’m on . . . but it’s certainly controlling all aspects of my life. The worst part? I’m letting it. I’ve submitted because I haven’t known what else to do. It’s time to take the wheel and gently guide myself in a new direction. Besides making more doctor appointments and continuing to figure out what’s going on, I need to, yes, take better care of myself.

Obviously, I am not going to go on any detoxes, fasts, or other major dietary shifts because I eat pretty healthfully as it is -- for my main meals. Plus, I don’t want to further jeopardize my fertility by losing weight at a rapid rate. Having a disordered history with makes this sort of thing difficult to undertake. I have a lot of emotions tied to weight and eating that I’ve worked for years to sort through.

So, I’m keeping my head clear and my thoughts level.


Moderation, right? And maybe slight modification. For example, these muffins -- which I’ll share Monday -- are insanely healthy, quick to grab, and are essentially just oatmeal and shredded apples and carrots. Versus chocolate chippers. I think with a little mix of portion control, fewer desserts, and continued low-glycemic foods, I’ll get things rolling.

I’m going to start with the following goals.

// Follow a “Weekends Off” Approach: I’ve had good success in the past with eating healthy meals throughout the week and skipping desserts, my admitted downfall, and then indulging on weekends. I’m thinking this will help tame my all-day cookie habit and my crazy post-BFN bottles of champagne. I know what I’m doing “wrong” is what I’m saying here. But I am also not willing to totally restrict my lifestyle because I really do love food and drink and think there’s a happy medium between constantly indulging and one hundred percent abstinence.

// Swap Out Bread: Well, at least sometimes. When I eat fewer desserts, I tend to sneak more slices of bread into my day. There’s a whole host of living foods I could be filling my stomach with instead. I’d like to swap out toast for a sweet potato with our breakfast for dinner night. Or maybe do quinoa on the side versus a dinner roll. I’m still going to continue eating my sprouted grains, but I realize they are still bready bread bread.

// Continue to Push the Protein: And healthy fats. I feel incredible when I’m eating the appropriate amount of protein for my body. Whether or not I lose weight. It just takes a little more work to choose these foods than grabbing convenient carbs. Which leads me to . . .

// Hone Meal Prep: I’ve become somewhat lazy with my meal prep lately when it comes to breakfast and lunch. I’ve been making dinners like a pro, though. Keep up the good work with that. Get some Slow Cooker Oats in the crock pot going. Chop some veggies so they’re ready to grab for quick snacks. I’ll probably start doing a post every now and again on meal prep, and I know a lot of you guys liked that.

// Then comes fitness:

I tried keeping up with my usual running mileage (30 miles per week, sometimes more) when we started TTC. After a few months (and when things with my body started getting funky), I thought something so easy as dropping mileage and intensity might do the trick. I’d say I was running more like between 10-20 miles a week depending on the time in my cycle. This is despite the fact that I just looked back on my pregnancy with Ada and realized I PRed at a 4-mile race and ran a 12 mile long run within days of getting my positive test. Sigh.

I’m not going to go crazy ramping up my mileage right now or introducing long runs when it’s -20 outside. But I’d like to make a goal of hitting around 20 miles a week at a steady pace. No “training” or trying to hit any sort of time goals. Some days I go out and it’s like 9:20/mile. Last night I ran 5 at 8:40. Whatever. I feel less stressed when I keep up with the running, and I don’t think it’s hurting anything reproductively speaking.

Otherwise, I’d like to add another mini-workout to a few days a week. Something that’s 15-25 minutes long. It could be some body weight stuff or a Barre or yoga video online. Anything that relates to toning and isn’t high intensity cardio. I figure I can manage adding it in the AM before I start my work for the day or perhaps during nap time.

This post feels like some strange personal journal entry. Weird, but I felt like sharing if it might help shake someone else out of something they’re going through. In short: I am hoping that focusing on myself again will help my body and mind relax. There are like 10,000 other things running through my head right now (like how I’m not directly addressing my mental health -- but I promise you, that’s not lost in all of this, they’re just interconnected), but this post is already quite long. Thanks for reading. Sometimes it’s just helpful to sort out my thoughts in black and white.

HAPPY FRIDAY!

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Food, Fitness, Family

FOOD

I’ve extended my love of sprouted grain breads to bagels. Wegmans carries a tasty sprouted wheat bagel (10 grams of protein per serving!) made by Alvarado St. Bakery. Some have asked what the big deal is with sprouted grain breads, etc. Here’s a little information on why it’s the healthiest bread you can eat (and why you should stop buying standard sliced bread in general).

Anyway, here’s my favorite bagel sandwich of the moment, The Mexican Bagel!


Yes, this sprouted habit is getting to be expensive, so I definitely have my sights set on learning to make my own sprouted grain breads. And speaking of savings, my friend told me if you go to the Food For Life website and fill out a short form, you can get coupons for Ezekiel Bread in the mail! Some grocers will even double these coupons.

FITNESS

My last two weeks of exercise haven’t been tremendous. The first, I was in the midst of virus #2 (bronchitis). The next, we had temperatures in the single digits with frigid wind chills. I haven’t been tracking my paces in the cold, but I assume they’re around 9 minutes per mile. My way of coping with winter running is to just get in the miles and not worry about the pace.

I’ve never come back in a spring season and been slower using this method.


Week 1 = 10 miles total

M: Off (sick)
T: 15-Minute Body Weight Workout
W: Off (sick)
R: 2 miles
F: 3 miles + 1 mile walk
S: 4 miles
S: Off

Week 2 = 22 miles total

M: 4 miles
T: 4 miles
W: 3.6 miles
R: 15-Minute Body Weight Workout
F: 3.4 miles
S: 4 miles
S: 3 miles

I still like running through the winter versus hopping on a treadmill because it gets me out in the fresh air. I’ve found a reliable 3 and 4 mile path from my house that’s well lit even in the dark, which is why you see so many runs of those two distances. There are certainly days when I wish I could head to the gym and swim, but it’s just not in the budget right now. No biggie.

FAMILY

I was too embarrassed to share one of my resolutions with you until now. Ada is 3-years-old and we haven’t gotten into a regular habit of eating dinner together. It’s not because I don’t cook, right? Instead, Stephen gets home from work around 4 or 4:30, I take a break from working (and life) and then go running . . . and stuff (dinner) just wasn’t coming together in time. Or, and this is much more likely, Ada wasn’t content at the dinner table and we (too many times) just gave in and decided to enjoy our meal alone after she would go to bed.

Yup.


Well, I made a huge effort to make our meals in advance the last couple weeks. And now? We’re eating dinner together most nights of the week. We even went out to dinner as a family this weekend, which is something we haven’t done in ages. We also extended the fun to morning meals on the weekends. I think -- at least for us -- that age three has been much better for eating together. Far less frustrating.

I’m also cooking way more interesting stuff as a result! Ada’s eating it, too. If we want to do our own thing (we are planning to eat just the two of us one or two nights a week), we still sit together for at least 10-15 minutes while Ada eats to make it a habit. I think the stars are aligning or something because it’s working out far better than in any of our previous attempts.

Typing that all out feels kind of silly, but it’s a huge stride in the right direction. It’s something we’ve been meaning and trying to do for what seems like ages. I can’t wait to share more of the dinners I’ve been making because they’re all really easy, inexpensive, and kid-friendly.

PS: Don’t miss the Pumpkin Fudge Microwave Muffin recipe!

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Food, Fitness, Family

We’re traveling right now, and I don’t have my big camera to take photos. So, I thought I’d elaborate on some Instagrams from the past few days. And I think the themes of food, fitness, and family will come up again and again, so consider this a semi-regular feature!

FOOD

I was writing an article for Wise Bread on different desserts you can bake in your microwave, and it totally reminded me of one of my favorite old breakfast recipes. Of course, I’m referring to microwave muffins.

Have you tried them yet?


MICROWAVE MUFFINS

What you’ll need . . . 

• 1 ripe banana, mashed
• 3 tablespoons whole wheat flour
• 3 tablespoons rolled oats, uncooked
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• pinch sea salt
• 1 tablespoon smooth peanut butter
• 1 tablespoon almond milk
• handful chocolate chips (berries, etc.)

Method . . . 

1. Lightly grease a tall mug with coconut or olive oil. Set aside.
2. Mix together the flour, oats, baking powder and salt in a small bowl.
3. Add the mashed banana, almond milk, peanut butter, and chocolate chips.
4. Mix until just combined. Then microwave on high for 2:30-3 minutes. 
5. Let cool before serving (tip mug upside-down, cut in half, etc.).
6. Serve with banana slices and peanut butter.

FITNESS

Stephen and I ran a 10K together yesterday around 8:30 pace in the hills around his childhood home. The best part was the weather. 56 degrees and sunny. Really. I’ll take that in late December -- for sure!

That gives me a total of 30 miles for the last week, broken down as follows:

Sunday: 8 miles at 8:50/mile
Monday: 5 miles at 8:50/mile
Tuesday: 6 miles at 8:50/mile
Wednesday: 1 mile -- busy with holiday stuff
Thursday: 4 miles at 8:45/mile
Friday: OFF
Saturday: 6.2 miles at 8:30/mile


I’m slower, yes, but happy to maintain this kind of mileage and still feel comfortable. Today I’m hoping to get in a quick 5K to shake my legs out from all the work yesterday, but I may also take some more rest and save up my energy for another 8-miler tomorrow. Anyone else loving the warm weather? (I could use a snowstorm, though!)

FAMILY

We’ve definitely had a rough patch in the sleep department over the last month (maybe more). First, Ada got sick and wasn’t sleeping through the night with the sniffles. Then I got sick and was waking up at 3AM for a straight week coughing. Then Ada got sick again (gotta love the first year of preschool, right!) and now we’re traveling. I’d love just two nights in a row of solid shut-eye. I know someday I’ll forget these dragging days.

Regardless, we’re enjoying our winter break together. Before Stephen heads back to work, we’d love to take Ada to a movie for the first time in the theater. I’d like to take a day-trip someplace new and poke around for a few hours. I think Ada’s most looking forward to playing.

It’s crazy how fast that transition happens from toddler to kid. Especially when it comes to play. I love hearing all the voices Ada creates for her different characters. Or seeing the stuff she dreams up with her blocks and tinker toys. The other day she drew a picture of me and said:

“Mommy -- I drawed you! You’re in the water (pointing at the bottom of the picture) yelling ‘help, help, help!’” 

Uhhhh. At least she’s expressing herself!

:)

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Pinning Some Blame on Spinning

So, I gained back that pound I had lost last week. But, honestly -- with everything that was going on with Ada, I wasn't trying very hard to whittle down. In fact, I definitely ate one of those frosting-filled sandwich cookies in pure jubilation Tuesday afternoon. Sometimes we need that stuff. Or at least I'm still in a place where I am using food to celebrate, perhaps more than I should.

Some great news: I got in an amazing long run after that conflicted hot yoga class that took me out for a couple days -- so I was feeling great on the fitness spectrum, extra 7 pounds on my frame or not. 10 weeks till the half marathon! My 1:40-ish goals seems somewhat in reach.

Maybe. Possibly?

I can't believe I didn't think about this until last night. I only recently started weighing myself after a long hiatus. And, yes, I weigh a bit more, my pants are definitely tighter, which is why I weighed myself in the first place. So, let's think. What -- if anything -- has changed about my health + fitness regimen in the last several months?

Regular indoor cycling! (Here's details + tricks for how I do it at home.)

I'm taking part in an actual coached half marathon plan for my May race, and there's an emphasis on XT that I haven't really taken on before as seriously as I am now. I gladly saddle up on the bike to get in 45 minutes to an hour of 150-160 BMP type riding once a week because, in my experience, it actually helps me run faster. And I've even added a few 30-minute sessions every now and again for good measure/extra activity in these cold winter months.

This photo is ancient.

2010 ancient.


You may have seen last month's news from Gwyneth Paltrow's trainer about how cycling is making us fat. It's misleading, though, because she's mostly saying that all cardio and no solid resistance training (weights, kettlebells, etc.) can be a recipe for stalling out. And that "fat" is most likely bulk in the legs/thighs due to added, awesome muscle (because spinning DOES provide resistance that running does not).

ETA -- clarification, I in NO WAY agree with the person interviewed that muscle bulk is fat or bad or anything negative. I was actually surprised to see it described this way, and somewhat outraged.

So maybe that's IT. Or at least part of IT.

The "struggle" that is really just irksome more than anything else, but I'll take muscle weight, that's cool. You guys have had such thoughtful comments about this latest quest of mine to "get back" to a certain weight, and I think it's understandable that some of you are frustrated/concerned that I care at all about the number on the scale. Honestly, I'm not fixated as much as it may seem, but writing things down in a blog can sure make it seem that way.

I focus on weight, the silly number, because it's an easy, quantifiable ways to gauge what's going on. I may find out in the end that I just can't get down to what I weighed before I had Ada. In which case, all these small tweaks and dietary modifications will be purely for my health -- and I'm cool with that. Mostly, I've been on a diet of pizza and beer, and it's a small way I can work toward eating better and feeling better.

Still, I do think checking weight can serve a purpose, at least from time to time. As someone with an eating disorder in her past, I certainly try to keep these methods to a minimum. Which is one reason I don't do calorie counting. I don't want to get High School Skinny or anything like that.


// MOVE MORE

Between running 4-5 days a week, cycling 1-2 days a week, and doing some yoga -- I think exercise is going well. We finally bought a kettlebell, so I'd like to start doing 1-2 days a week of a 30 or so minute workout with it to supplement, along with getting back into my bodyweight strength routine.

// DRINK LESS

I haven't had beer or wine during the week, and I'm feeling really good about it. In the winter, I tend to forget to drink as much water, so I'm usually operating on a small level of dehydration, which alcohol just exacerbates. So, I've been waking up in the morning feeling much clearer-headed. I love that feeling. I still need my nice, tall dark beer on the weekend, and I'm looking forward to celebrating Stephen's 30th on Saturday!

// CHALLENGE MY BODY

Thankfully the snow has melted, so I'm going to be able to get in a solid fartlek and hill workout this week. My long run showed me that all those weeks of slugging along in the snow weren't for nothing. I've still retained my usual pace and may have even become a stronger runner through my hardcore outdoor running attempts in slush.

// ADD MORE VEGGIES

I showed you guys a glimpse into some of the cheap foods we eat in winter this week -- and beyond that, I've been eating lots of veggies. I have a great recipe I'm hoping to share tomorrow that involves a bunch of roasted veggies in a burger . . . with enough extra the next night or two to make quesadillas and even soup!

// SKIP DESSERT (ON OCCASION)

I found an 85% dark chocolate that I love, and I've been sticking with a bar or two of that versus lots of baked goods for the last couple weeks. It's satisfying and I'm also getting all those awesome benefits of chocolate -- of which there are many.

// WEAR REAL CLOTHES

With recording all those fun videos for my new YouTube channel, I've been putting on more makeup and dressing up more. It's sort of an added benefit of the whole thing, which is great! I'll take it.

// WRITE IT DOWN

Nope. I didn't write anything down this week. But you guys have told me that even a simple paper account of my eating/exercise will show me little areas for improvement and opportunity. So, I'm going to try to get on that soon.

Alright. Check-in time! 

How are your diet/fitness goals going?

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Hot Yoga (For Those Of Us Who Haven't Tried It Yet)

So, pretend it's 2008 (or earlier, I don't even know) and hot yoga is still relatively new. Yeah. I've been out of the loop, but also admittedly scared to try it, so my first time trying vinyasa flow (not Bikram) in 100+ degree temps was last Friday night with some friends from our local runners club.

I can't say I loved it. I can't say I hated it either. But I certainly see why it ends up being a love/hate thing for most people. I'd like to go back and try again, maybe even get one of those inexpensive introductory month passes, before forming a solid opinion.

// INITIAL THOUGHTS

OMG +  I love this vinyasa sequence -- so familiar, I know all the moves.

OMG -  Holy hell moly! I can't breathe + move this fast in 100+ degree heat!

OMG +  Wow -- It feels great to stretch so, soooooo deeply.

OMG -  My hands are slipping all over the place + I'm stretching, ouch, TOO deeply.

OMG +  The heat feels oddly comforting, especially since it's been so cold this winter.

OMG -  Uh. I think I'm going to pass out (quick fade in/out of black at 60-minute mark, no joke).

OMG +  All this sweat sure makes me feel like I'm torching 10,000 calories.

OMG -  Sigh, but I read that it might just be hype.

OMG!!! Who cares? Focus on your inner-self Ashley.

OMG +  I haven't used these muscles in so long. Feels good knowing they're still there.

OMG -  Ahh. I haven't used these muscles in so long. Can't do any more! *falls on mat

OMG +  Phew! It's over and I feel . . . incredible, no, i.n.v.i.n.c.i.b.l.e!

OMG -  I'm FREEZING!!! Cannot get warm . . . need seven blankets.

OMG +  [That night] Wow. I feel super flexible and stretched out. That was great!

OMG -  [Next 2 days] Sore. I cannot move my body -- must skip running. #fail

// \\ // \\ // \\// \\ // \\ // \\// \\ // \\ // \\// \\ // \\ // \\

No. Really. I had to skip running on Saturday and Sunday because I was so sore from trying it out. I don't know if that was because it was HOT yoga or just yoga, which I haven't done in a while. Thankfully, I got in my long run tonight . . . but man!

Anyway, I'd love to hear what you think. I've already gathered from conversations on Twitter and Instagram that a lot of you guys absolutely love hot yoga or Bikram classes. That you do them once, sometimes multiple times each week. Did you know there's also hot Pilates now? I have zero core muscles (well, that's a lie, but I hate working them out), so that sounds like sheer torture to me.

What about the rest of you?

Hot yoga: Love/hate?

Will my opinion change next time?

Are there "real" benefits to heat? Or is it just hype?

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Weekend Things + Taste of Nature Bar #GIVEAWAY [CLOSED]

I'm approaching Weekend Things a bit differently this week.

Weight loss has been a big topic this week in the wake of Rachel Frederickson's controversial Biggest Loser win (image source), so I thought I'd dig up some of my posts about body image, eating disorders, exercise, calorie counting, and more.

Taking a trip through my archives was fun -- I've been blogging so long, I can't believe all the stuff I found! I used to do a lot more healthy living focus, but over the years, I feel like my energy got redirected toward all-things pregnancy + babies, and reader interest has waned. Maybe? But I suppose I'll leave that up to you guys.

• The Biggest Loser: 10 Things I've Learned
• Ode to My 17-Year-Old Self: The Mile
• The Mile: Age 26
• On Being a Self-Made Athlete
• What's Skinny vs. Healthy?
• Skinny vs. Healthy, Part II: Leading by Example
• What It Takes to be "High School" Skinny
• What "Healthy" Meant to Me as a Child
• How I Fell In Love With Running
• Reader Question: Becoming Un-vegan?
• Exercise: What's TOO Much?
• Calorie Counting: How I See It

Would you like to see more posts like these? Or just stick to recipes and food? (Thanks for your feedback in advance!) 


Admittedly, January was a tough month for me health + fitness-wise. It's been brutally cold with lots of snow. Without a working treadmill or gym membership, getting in my miles wasn't so much fun, but I'd say I was able to do it for the most part. I'm training with a coach for our upcoming half marathon, so the extra motivation has certainly helped.

As you can see, I've decided to dive in head first this month -- even if that means slapping on my snowshoes to go running!

Diet has been another story entirely.


I could easily say that this cold winter has prompted my body to eat crap and get an extra layer to stay warm. But I know my own poor habits are to blame. I slip easily into a breads and sweets routine and I forget the foods that make me feel my best, like protein. So, I am working on it this month, one bowl of oatmeal at a time.

It helps to have some healthy snacks. So, when Canadian snack company Taste of Nature contacted me to see if I wanted to try their fruit and nut bars, I gladly said yes! Their bars are made with quality ingredients, certified organic + vegan + kosher, non-GMO, low glycemic, gluten-free, and -- most importantly -- they taste great!


I like that I can see all the ingredients in these bars -- nothing is hiding under the surface. My favorite flavor is the Brazilian Nut Fiesta, Ada's is the Canadian Maple Forest (above), and Stephen's is the Persian Pomegranate Garden.

Are you salivating yet?

Well, good news, then!

You can WIN some of these bars to try!

/ / / [GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED] / / / / // / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / 

Congrats to #4 Emma, #39 Linda, #27 Brianna, #54 Heather, #47 "Meeble Feeble"

FIVE lucky readers will win a variety box of Taste of Nature bars.

Like the Taste of Nature Facebook page.

AND 

Then leave a comment below with the words "SNACK ME!" 

AND 

Some way to contact you (email, web address, etc.)

The winners will be chosen using a random number generator next Friday -- Valentine's Day.

Disclosure: I was given a variety pack of Taste of Nature bars to try. I was not compensated in any other way. My opinions are my own. And good luck with the giveaway!

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Sustainable Fitness: Fitting It In

One of the hardest parts about completing workouts and, therefore, keeping fitness consistent and sustainable is finding time. Our days fit together like puzzle pieces, and those jigsawed edges are constantly morphing depending on a number of life factors. No matter what, we all need to assess our unique situations to form some realistic expectations and be sure to take care of ourselves first and foremost.

Finding time and desire to move often requires adaptability and creativity. We can forge paths to the places we want to go with our fitness goals -- even big goals. But it's not always simple or straightforward.

I think we all can relate that sometimes fitting in exercise is easy. When the weather is nice and the sun lights the sky for long stretches, those hours for activity seem infinite. Everything feels brighter and lighter, even the number on the scale slides in our favor. Our motivation is boosted in all regards. We move more because it feels good -- and -- a body in motion tends to stay in motion.

Then there are those darker periods of time when work or home or other extenuating circumstances get in the way. When it's cloudy and icy and beyond frigid almost every single day. No one loves going out in that mess. We skip exercise one day -- and -- it somehow landslides into the following week or even month. Hibernation feels good at first, but eventually it manifests in this nagging emotional weight + makes us feel stagnant.

The good news: I strongly believe that most people can fit in at least 30 minutes of exercise daily, not matter the time of year or level of stress or busy schedule at work or insanity at home.

The tricky part: It takes effort -- and that doesn't always feel good/comfortable/worth it.

+     +     +     +     +     +     +

// GET UP EARLY

I think one of the most commonly shared tips for fitting in regular exercise is setting the alarm clock earlier. How far back is up to you, but even 45 minutes could allow you to exercise and shower before you start your day. It's not always fun to transition to morning workouts, but -- from personal experience -- it can be done.

Just make sure to get enough sleep and adjust on the going-to-bed side accordingly. And if you're waking up super early and still plan to do some serious moving, you'll want to eat something so you don't bonk halfway through your workout!

// USE YOUR LUNCH

If you know your day is going to be crazy, a simple walk during lunch can do the trick. I've had a variety of work situations, from working on a campus with awesome trails to working in an industrial park where I walked indoors, etc.

A walk usually doesn't work up too much of a sweat, but if you have shower facilities (or can go home!), you could even do some more intense stuff like running or biking. Just be sure to pack a portable/simple lunch so you don't skip your nutritional needs for the mid-afternoon.

// UTILIZE ALL OPTIONS

We used to be members of a gym, so working out whenever childcare was offered helped tremendously. You may have that option -- and it's worth going through a potentially rocky transition to earn it. Otherwise, consider swapping childcare or asking the grandparents or other relatives to watch children.

If you don't have children, think about walking/biking/running to work. There are a number of ways to find time or reasons to move no matter your stage of life. I'm sure you spent enough time thinking, you might discover some awesome opportunity you never considered before.

// BECOME A NIGHT OWL

I actually prefer working out at night. I always have. After all tasks seem completed for the day, lace up and head out for a jog around your neighborhood (here are some tips for running in the dark). Or after you put the kids to bed, pop in an exercise DVD from Jillian's Shreds to Barre to Yoga.

Stephen even does core and body weight exercises in the late evening because they're quiet and contained. When I exercise in the later evenings, I eat a lighter dinner and then munch on more after I've completed my training.

// SWAP ACTIVITIES

Ever notice how much time you might waste on social media? Consider cutting that out for even a week and see how much time it frees up. Or do you have a TV habit? If you don't think you have time to exercise, examine what IS taking up your time first before you restate it as fact. We all engage in things that suck time away from us . . . it's just a matter of identifying what these activities are an shifting accordingly.

// WRITE OUT A SCHEDULE

One of the more frustrating parts in my own experience is balancing out my goals/workouts with Stephen's. He's at a higher level and, as such, runs many more miles/hours than I do each week. Since I work in the mornings and we quit our gym membership -- we're sometimes at odds with who gets to run first and who gets the priority when it comes to time.

So, we worked out a schedule where we've both had to compromise. Long runs sometimes happen on Saturdays or Mondays depending on who is racing or wants to go with the group that week. Stephen might want to do some hard workouts every single day, but has decided to keep it between 5-6 so I can get my 4-5 and we can still eat dinner together. It's such a balancing act and can be hard to figure out -- but it's worth the effort!

// LOAD YOUR WEEKENDS

Another option is to exercise more when you have larger chunks of time to devote. For a lot of people, this means the weekends. Say you need to skip a lot of days during the week due to a project for work or other responsibilities. Start making Saturday mornings your gym ritual. Spend time doing cardio and weights. Maybe add a yoga class for stretching, too. You can also simulate gym stuff at home with DVDs.

Or do an extra long run or ride, provided you've worked your way up to whatever the distance is already (to avoid injury). In other words, take advantage of the time you do have and move the most you can with it. Just be sure to get in at least one or two shorter workouts in the week to balance things out.



How do you find time to move?

If you're catching up:

#1: Sustainable Fitness: Assessing Your Unique Situation
#2: Sustainable Fitness: Redefining Success
#3: Sustainable Fitness: Thinking Holistically

Automatic Healthy Eating Tips:

#1: Stock up on frozen veggies 
#2: Buy greens and actually USE them 
#3: Create simple, go-to meals
#4: Learn to love alternatives
#5: Prep, Make, and Store
#6: Add In: Convenience to your advantage
#7: Eliminate Food Waste
* 20 Ideas for Make-Ahead Meals

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Sustainable Fitness: Redefining Success

Once you've assessed your (unique) situation with regard to fitness + life, it's time to set a goal for yourself. No matter what's going on, having some goal -- any goal -- is essential to sticking with an exercise program. But with so many races and milestones, it can be hard to choose just one.

Even more frustrating can be mixing up your own goal with the goals of others.

Here's an abridged history of my own running goals:

• When I started running, I had an immediate desire to run a 5K distance so I could participate in a race. It took me an entire summer to reach that distance goal. It took me a year beyond that to muster the courage to sign up for an event.
• After I'd been running several years and had a variety of races under my belt, I became active in our local runners club. Seemed like every runner on Earth (besides me) had run a marathon (or 10), was training to run a marathon, or was considering training for a marathon. Eventually I got sucked in and spent months preparing for my first 26.2 mile race.
• Then, of course, because that first race didn't go as planned, I wanted/needed to break 4 hours. So, I devoted the bulk of a year to reaching this goal -- ultimately ending in 1 DNF, 1 DNS . . . and lots of heartbreak + injury.
• When I was pregnant, I just wanted to run as long into the trimesters as possible. I ended up completing a half marathon at the end of my first trimester, a 15K long run at 20 weeks, but after not too long -- speed and distance didn't matter anymore. I just wanted to move to move (and did until around 37 weeks). 
• As a new mom, I wanted to regain the speed and endurance I had sacrificed for over a year, so the motivation was getting back into previous shape and beating my best half marathon time.

Now, though, I'm in this weird crossroads.

I don't have some glaring motivation. Racing hasn't been as enticing. It all takes coordination, babysitting, and money. I don't feel I have anything to prove to myself (though I do get fleeting desires to beat old times -- I think we all do) or others. Honestly, I could see getting pregnant again in the next year or so, and I don't want to make any huge plans (sub-4 marathon, I'm talking to you!) I might later want/need to break.

What I've focused on:

• Instead of trying to get in 30 miles a week, every week -- I focus on running a certain number of days per week (for me, it's 4 or 5). Of course, I like reaching certain distances and try to keep one weekly long run over 10 miles, but it doesn't always happen.
• Half marathons have become my sweet spot because I've reached a level of fitness where I can compete with myself . . . but not give up my entire life to do so. By reaching to run at least one double digits run on a weekend, it's only a few weeks to step up to the 13.1 mile distance, so I like that comfort zone.
• I run fast on days when I feel like running fast. On days when I feel run down, I take things slower. If I find I'm feeling slow for a long period of time, I figure out why. If I feel like I have excess energy, I take full advantage.
• There are a number of local, inexpensive races from the 5K to marathon distance. Many allow sign-up the day of. If I'm feeling it, I race. If not, I do my own thing and pocket the $$$. Sticking to local races with less rigid signup processes has been helpful.

That all being said, I surely go through periods of time when my training calendar is blank and I just run without a watch or set path. There are also times when I buckle down and train hard to race. I am actually beginning to figure out my spring half marathon calendar because I'd like to get closer to 1:40 this time around. We shall see!

Basically: 

• Having kids or a busy full-time job or some other situation that makes running/exercise more inconvenient isn't necessarily an excuse to do less. In fact, several of you have said these things have inspired you to shift around your lifestyle or even do more. 
• For me, I've had to scale back from my previous running/exercise schedule to feel like my best self. But it's all about what works for you in your situation.
• At the end of the day, I like to get my work done + deadlines crossed off. I like to relax and spend time with my family. I sleep well, prepare healthy meals, and -- because it's still very important to me -- I move my body. I run for health, both physical and mental.
• If I can do all of these things and still feel happy and energized, I use this as my definition of success. To me, that's what sustainable exercise is all about. If one of these life areas starts overtaking the others for too long, I step back and reevaluate.

Do you feel your exercise/life are in balance? What do you do to keep them that way or adjust when you need a change?

Like what you just read? Browse more of our posts + recipes on Pinterest. You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

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