Fitness

Fitness Friday: {Giveaway} Be Seen

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Workouts since last Fitness Friday

Thoughts:

  • Not enough time spent working out. Over a 7 day period I only averaged 23 minutes a day. That is way less than I should be doing.
  • No yoga this week. One of my goals is to do yoga at least once a week. I find that it improves my running, my mind and keeps me balanced.
  • Poor fueling before runs=not so great runs. This is one thing that is going to be fixed starting now, yes right this minute. In the last week I fell off my normal workout routine because our gym was closed, hurricane Irene came for a visit and because I chose not to put as much dedication into my workouts as I should have.
Goals for this week:
  • Spend an average of 45 minutes per day working out even on passive rest days.
  • On passive rest days do yoga, go for a walk or do a gentle swim.
  • Get back to meal planning and work on eating foods that will benefit my health, my running and my body.
  • Hydrate. Drink more water, more frequently.  That is one thing that I haven’t been doing well enough lately and I know I should.
Conclusion.  I see the improvements I need to make and I know I have the power to do them, we all do really.  I will take the time this week to support my body and mind so that it is at it’s healthiest.

Moving on…

Since I started running I have been on the lookout for running gear that fits well, is comfortable to run in and of course it needs to look cute. I have been slowly accumulating new items, some that work really well and some that are not so great and have resulted in chaffing or just don’t fit correctly.  One of the newest tops I have tired out is from Be Seen the creators of active gear for those who enjoy outdoor activities such as running, biking and walking.

Be Seen is the vision of Eric and Lisa Fenstermacher. As dedicated age-group triathletes living in Dallas. TX, they appreciate the need to be safe and aware on the roads. Unfortunately it seems everyone involved in an outdoor lifestyle knows someone that knows someone with a tragic story. Eric and Lisa want to help these stories change to tales of accomplishment. The most effective mechanism to achieve this is through education and awareness. They firmly believe that awareness is the precursor to change. Be Seen out there and stay safe.[1]

Eric and Lisa have created a fashionable and effective way to improve the safety for outdoor activity lovers with their Been Seen athletic tops. The large designs on all sides of the garment brightly reflect vehicle headlights and other ambient light. They are made from sweat wicking fabric, moisture moves quickly to the surface where it evaporates.

Reminder: Don't take photos at 5am.

My thoughts: 
As soon as I received this top I tried it right on and headed out on a early evening run on the bike path.  The things I love about this top:

– The Length. I have found that my biggest issue with woman’s running tops is that they are many times too short or way too long.  I was happy to find that this shirt was just the right length, hitting at the hips and it was perfect because it didn’t ride up while I ran (my other huge issue).

– Safety First. I really love that the large design that is both on the front and back is not an eyesore.  I am all about safety first but I cringe at the though of florescent orange and neon green tops. This top is great because it’s cute and promotes safety.

– Overall fit.  I know I mentioned above that I like the length but the overall fit is also worth noting.  I was told in advanced that the shirts tend to run a little big so when ordering one you probably want to go a size smaller, I had to. I also loved that it was fitted but not tight or hugging and the sleeve length was perfect.

–The fabric.  I thought the fabric was perfect. I went on a hot run in the top and I felt great.  The fabric breathes and doesn’t chaff. I did find that fabric to be a bit heavy though especially for 75F+ and 50%+ humidity (welcome to VT summer), however I do think that it will be perfect now that it is cooler in the mornings and evenings but not cold enough for long sleeves (although Be Seen has those too).

Overall. Overall I love the top.  I would recommend it to anyone especially those who are avid bikers, outdoor runners and walkers.  It is comfortable, cute and of course promotes safety first.

{Giveaway Time} Closed

Winner:

 

Guidelines:  Giveaway for your own Be Seen top is open to US residents only. Giveaway will close at 8pm on 9/6/2011.  You must do the mandatory question, for additional entries you MUST leave a separate comment for each entry.

Mandatory:

1. Visit the Be Seen site here  and complete this sentence: Been Seen is ______

Additional Entries: 

  • “Like” Be Seen on Facebook.
  • Follow Be Seen on Twitter
  • Tweet: “I want to win @cookveganlover @beseenforlife giveaway http://wp.me/pFVWo-2xo”
  • Follow my new running blog on twitter @LindzNeilRun
  • Subscribe to my new running blog in a reader.

[1]: Been Seen|About

 

Lindsay & Neil Run Disney

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Image Source

Today marks the official start of my training for my first half marathon ever. I am lucky enough to be running it at Disney world with my loving husband. This is a huge deal for me because I never thought I’d be writing this post but I’ve got the running bug and I’m so excited it brings tears to my eyes, literally, I’m not joking you I cried watching the above video. I also cried watching 15+ other videos including this one;I’m just so overwhelmed with excitement. This is going to be an amazing, challenging, worthwhile experience and I look forward to sharing it with you along the way.

I don’t want to overload CVL with posts about training so I will be limiting my posts to Fitness Fridays. However, if you want to read more Neil and I have created a blog to document our experience called One Step At A Time for this purpose. We will both be blogging here and discussing how we are feeling, what our training is like and will be looking for any guest posts on your own 1/2 or full marathon experiences.

Let the training begin!

Q: Have you runDisney? If you have an want to share your experience email us here. 

 

Camping: Underhill State Park

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Camping supplies for one night...for two people.

Our accommodations for the night

Getting the Fire Started

Onions sauteed in beer for the Filed Roast Sausages

Fresh Sweet Corn

Field Roast Sausages with Creamy Chili Sweet Corn

Hubz Homebrew disguised in Sam Adams Bottle

Relaxing Fire Side

Early morning hike on Mount Mansfield

Hiking sights

More hiking sights

Post hike Vega Smoothie in a jar

Goodbye July, Hello August

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Neil and I spent the last weekend in July enjoying an outdoor concert, a trip to the pool and working. Yes, working.  We have been gone almost every weekend this summer and August looks like it will be that way too so we tried to catch up on a number of different projects. I was going to take the weekend off from blogging but then I remembered that I needed to write my Thrive in 30 post, so that went up yesterday. Although we did work a bunch this weekend, we did find time to relax and enjoy ourselves since it was the weekend.

Friday: Coffee, Coffehouse Games & Live Music

Beautiful Coffee.

Game- Barista. Even though I worked a summer as a Barista, I failed horribly at this game.

Bright Eyes & The Mountain Goats at Shelburne Museum Concert on The Green

Saturday: Pool Party and A New Beverage

Relaxing by the Burlington Tennis Club Pool

New Beverage. It was meh okay, not great.

Sunday: Work Day, Raw Muesli & Iced Tea

Homemade Raw Muesli. It was good until I put a gross almond milk on it (different brand than I usually buy).

Yummy Iced Tea. I made two other flavors too.

How did you spend your last weekend of July 2011?

Now it’s August and I have been thinking about goals.

My August 2011 Goals:

1. Stick to Pre-Training Plan.  Two 30-45 minute runs and one mileage run per week PLUS two-three days of strength training and at least one day of yoga.

2. Meal Plan.  I have been really thrown off lately with our schedules and our CSA when it comes to meal planning and I want to get back on track.  I do so much better when our meals are planned out ahead of time.

3. Organize my kitchen.  I love to create recipes but lately it’s been difficult because I feel like our kitchen is so unorganized. It’s time to go through and reorganize and purge. I should rather say just get organized in general because I need to organize all the rooms in our house and my personal, blog and health coaching things. 

4. Early to bed, Early to Rise. I would like to be in bed by 9pm to read and lights out by 10pm.  I would like to be up and out of bed by 5am.  I used to be in bed by 8:30p and up by 4:30/5a most mornings but since we have become more social I’ve been going to bed too late and getting up too late.  I am so much more productive in the morning too.

5. Read two books. This one goes with goal number four. 

What are your goals for August? 

Thoughts on Thrive in 30

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Thirteen days ago I signed up for the Thrive in 30 program, a 30 day program with Brendan Brazier that provides you with the tips and tools to achieve optimum health and vitality. The Thrive in 30 program teaches you:

  • How to combat stress using whole, plant-based foods and high net-gain nutrition
  • The whole food truth about protein, fats and carbs— and how balancing your diet will help you build a younger body
  • How you can alkalize your body’s pH to combat disease, improve sleep and lose weight
  • What superfoods to use to balance hormones, detoxify body or lower cholesterol
  • How to identify common foods that cause unexplained, mystery illnesses
  • How to use nutrition to strategically fuel your body so you’ll have greater endurance, maximize the return from your workouts and recover faster
  • Why nutrition, exercise and sleep are the secret to empowered mental health
  • Long-term strategies that will help you transform your health for life

The first task is to Examine your current diet (I did wrote this on July 18, 2011- my start date) and write a list of all the things you eat that you think might be taking away from your energy or aren’t supporting your health and fitness goals. Mine are as follows:

  • Wheat/Gluten. I am a huge bread lover.  I could easily sit and eat a whole loaf by myself (don’t worry I don’t) but I also know I don’t feel great after I do. This is a challenge for me but I know if I was to reduce the amount of bread, crackers, pasta, ect. that I eat I would feel better.
  • Soy.  I actually don’t eat nearly as much soy as I once did but lately I find it sneaking into our grocery cart more often.  As much as I love soy products and tofu my stomach doesn’t agree.
  • Alcohol. I am a huge beer lover. I notice a big difference in my energy and body in the morning even after only having one beer.  I have been doing pretty well at staying at a two beer max, usually only having one beer, but still more per week than I’d like.  My goal here is to not drink at all on nights before runs because that is when I feel like it effects me the most so that would limit consumption down to 3-5 alcoholic drinks max per week.

In addition to breaking these habits/crowding them out of my diet. Thrive in 30 suggests the following five tools to make the most of this program (I’m not going to reveal everything so you’ll have to sign up yourself to find out more):

  • Eat throughout the day
  • Drink a nutritious smoothie each day
  • Eat a big green salad every day
  • Eat a raw energy bar every day
  • Eat a substantial, balanced afternoon snack

As part of the Thrive in 30 you receive an email every few days with a lesson filled with important information, tips and tools on how to make achieve optimal health. I just received lesson 7 of 12 and so far I have found the lessons informative and helpful.

Each lesson has a specific topic that is covers and a short video clip featuring an informative video lesson by Brendan Brazier.  Below the video there is information regarding the topic followed by take-away points and finally how you can take action. Since starting this program I have:

  • Lesson 1: Stress & Diet
    • I have reduced my intake of processed and convenience foods by eating more fruit and vegetable snacks.
    • I have reduced stimulants such as coffee by reducing the amount of coffee I drink to 3-5 cups per week.
  • Lesson 2: High Net-Gain Nutrition
    • I have added even more high net-gain foods (whole foods, raw foods, superfoods, alkaline forming foods) to my already highly nutritious diet by adding blueberries to my oatmeal, taking a chlorella supplement and adding sea vegetables to my salad.
  • Lesson 3: Myth-Busting
    • I didn’t get as much out of this lesson because I am vegan, I add flax to my oatmeal, I bake with natural sweeteners and whole wheat flours and I love to top by salad with hemp seeds and flax (all suggestions in lesson 3).
  • Lesson 4: Alkaline v. Acid
    • In this lesson you are to rate the amount of alkaline versus acidic foods that you are eating.  I found that I regularly eat 25 out of the 32 alkaline-forming foods listed and 3 (coffee, peanuts, chocolate) out of the 21 acid-forming foods. The other suggestion is to be more active which I feel that I can always be a little more but I am fairly active running on average 8-12 miles per week as well as doing cross training 2-3 times per week.
  • Lesson 5: Digestion
    • In this lesson it is suggested that you regularly eat high fiber foods, which as a vegan I eat tons high fiber foods such as leafy greens, vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds and legumes.  The other action that is suggested is to take a probiotic.  This I actually do not take a vegan-friendly probiotic supplement but I do often use brown rice miso (a whole food source probiotic) and Vega Whole Food Health Optimizer in my smoothies.
  • Lesson 6: Superfoods
    • I include a number of superfoods in my diet including maca, chlorella, hemp, flax, dark leafy greens, quinoa, sprouts and coconut.
  • Lesson 7: Food Sensitivities
    • I have reduced my soy, gluten and wheat intake after noticing the negative affects on my digestion. As a vegan I already don’t eat dairy so I can cross that allergen off my list.  I have not yet removed corn or yeast but besides nutritional yeast I do not eat much else.

Overall I think that this program is great for those who are looking to jump start a healthy lifestyle.  The tips and lessons are laid out in a way that is easy to follow.  The program is great for different learners as well because it has a visual element, written and then action to help implement the tips and tools suggested. As a vegan who tries to live a healthy lifestyle already I found that many of the actions where things that I already do, however there is always room for improvement.  As a health coach I found that most of the information is similar to what I discuss with my own clients and has provided me with some new ways of approaching various topics.  So far I am finding Thrive in 30 to be a great resource filled with great tips and tools to jump start a healthy lifestyle.

Interested in starting Thrive in 30? You can sign up free here: http://thrivein30.com/sign-up-now/

Old Port 5k Recap

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We did it! Neil and I ran our first 5k this past weekend in Portland, ME. It was an amazing experience and we both did really well.

The race started off on a hill. I was feeling nervous because I had only done one kill run during my training so I wasn’t sure how I would do. To my delight and both Neil and my surprise I actually crushed that hill. The course went onto a slightly inclined area and eventually to the stairs which you can see here. I shocked myself on the stairs. I didn’t stumble, fall flat on my face or run into anyone; WIN!

Then it was on to the next section of the course which was on a bike path right along the water. This area was described to us as “flat as a pancake”; well it was only “flat as a pancake” if pancakes have lump inclines. I really hit my stride at the last mile and it felt great. When I got to the last .1, right before the finish line, I decided to give it all I had and pass the 2 people in front of me to come in at a 37:36 giving me a 12:05 pace per mile. This was huge for me since my last 3.1 mile training run was 40:30 and the one before that 39:30! There were 17 finishers in the Female 25 to 29 age group and 185 finishers in the race. My overall finish place was 158 and I placed 16th in my age group (I didn’t finish last overall or in my age group- WAHOO).
Neil crossed the finish line at 28:49 and came in 5th out of 8 in his age group and 93rd overall. He rocked it.

After Race Complimentary Beers

After race brunch at Whole Foods (kale salad, home fries, roasted mushrooms, tomatoes, vegan chicken salad, fresh roll, macrobiotic dumplings and a vegan sesame chicken nugget)