Fitness Friday: Safety First

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 Fitness this Week

Goals from last week:
  • Spend an average of 45 minutes per day working out even on passive rest days. – Improved by 13 minutes per day (36 minutes per day) from last week but not up to where I want to be. This will continue to be a goal for next week. 
  • On passive rest days do yoga, go for a walk or do a gentle swim. –I did yoga this week! Wahoo! I did have one rest day that I didn’t do anything.  Again this is a continuing goal. 
  • Get back to meal planning and work on eating foods that will benefit my health, my running and my body.- This week has been great for food! I created a meal plan this week and came home with lots of yummy nourishing food.  Favorite meals of the week: Huge green salad and whole wheat penne with ratatouille sauce, and huge green salad and a quinoa bowl with tons of veggies and cheeze sauce. 
  • Hydrate. Drink more water, more frequently.  That is one thing that I haven’t been doing well enough lately and I know I should.- I have been drinking a lot more water, a lot less coffee and a lot less beer.  
Conclusion. This week went really well.  I still need to make improvements but I am on the right track.  Yesterday my hips and knee were bothering me some so I decided to do hip opening yoga instead of going on my run.  Today I will do that run and shift my other runs a little bit over the next week so I am gong every other day.

Goals for this week:

  • Spend an average of 45 minutes per day working out even on passive rest days. (Passive rest days = gentle walk, yoga (non-power or hot), easy swim)
  • Continue to Hydrate. Drink more water, more frequently. That is one thing that I haven’t been doing well enough lately and I know I should.
  • Drink less coffee and less alcohol.  Neil and I have decided that we are going to cut back on these two things to improve our health, our energy levels and (hopefully) our running.  We have decided that we can have a coffee on Saturday and we can have a max of two alcoholic beverages per week and only on Thursday, Friday or Saturday and not before a run day.

Safety First: Road ID 

When I first started running my husband and I always went on your runs together.  Although he is faster than me he was always just 2-3 minutes ahead of me and I felt safe knowing he was near by.  Nowadays I often do my running alone, many times in the early morning or afternoon and since I don’t have my husband or a friend with me I always wondered what if something happened to me.

A few weeks ago I made the poor decision to go out on a run even though it was hot and I knew I had not hydrated well.  By the last half mile of my run I started to feel a little dizzy but I pushed through.  As soon as I arrived home I had to get some water and sit down for awhile because the horrible combination of heat, humidity and lack of hydration made me feel like I was just about to pass out.  I lucked out that I made it home before that feeling hit but fear set in anyways and I couldn’t stop thinking about the what ifs.  That’s when I looked into getting a Road ID.

I talked with the team at Road ID and they decided to send me a Road ID of my choice to have for my safety and to try out for review.  I had a choice between a few different styles: the Wrist ID Sport, the Wrist ID Elite, the Wrist ID thing, the Shoe ID, the FIXX ID or the Ankle ID.  I decided to go with the Wrist ID Sport because it seemed like the perfect one for running.  After measuring my wrist I chose my size, color and what I wanted on my ID.  I put my full name, location, my husbands number, my parents number, I noted that I have no allergies and lastly “Follow Your Bliss”.

I now run with my Road ID on every outdoor run.  I have a Garmin on one arm and my ID on the other and even though it looks a little silly I don’t care because it’s all about safety first.

Do you run or do outdoor activities with an ID? If not when will you start to? 

Vega Breakfast Challenge

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A few weeks ago I was invited to participate in the Vega blogger campaign to Take the Vega Breakfast Challenge. Being a huge fan of Vega I decided to take the challenge.  During the challenge I tried Vega’s Complete Whole Food Health Optimizers (WFHO) in a variety of flavors and ways.  My favorite way to use WFHO is in smoothies or in my Banana Bread Protein Pancakes.

Post 3Miler- Choco-Banana Vega Smoothie

After trying the WFHO I then compared my everyday breakfast  to only one single serving of  WFHO using Vega’s online Breakfast Nutrition Calculator. I honestly had a hard time using the the Breakfast Nutrition Calculator because I couldn’t accurately find what I normally eat each morning which is on run days is a super cacao energy bite and then most days oatmeal with banana, nut butter, chia seeds and flax.  Simply finding rolled oats on the calculator was a challenge and then when I found an item labeled “oats”, I was unable to choose the correct quantity. Additionally, when adding the chia seeds and flax to the list it did not accurately compare the two items because both include omega-3’s and they did not show up on the nutrition calculator.  Overall I thought the Breakfast Nutrition Calculator was a bit flawed and did not accurately compare the WFHO with my everyday breakfast.

Moving on to really discuss how I felt the mornings that I ate the WFHO- I felt great.  The WFHO is 100% plant-based, it’s gluten-free, soy-free and dairy free and it’s super low in calories. According to Vega only one single serving guarantees:
·         100% of you daily vitamins and minerals
·         60% daily intake of fiber
·         Healthy weight loss
·         Maintaining optimal health

I did felt more energized, full and ready to take on the day after having a smoothie or the pancakes with the WFHO.  I love that it adds the edition of:

  • A Full Serving of ChlorEssence (High CGF Chlorella)
    • Rich in protein, chlorophyll and nucleic acids DNA & RNA
    • Cleanse, nourish, rejuvenate cells and activate, support immune system
    • Special cell wall fiber binds to and removes heavy metals and other toxins from the body
  • A Full Serving of MacaSure (Organic Gelatinized Maca)
    • Rich in alkaloids, glucosinolates, minerals and sterols
    • Increase energy, reduce stress, balance hormones, improve libido
    • Gelatinization enhances potency and ease of digestion/absorption
Two things I do not get enough of regularly and both are great for active people and non-active people.

Overall I felt that the challenge was a success because I felt a difference in my energy levels throughout the day.  I am, and have been, a fan of the product for years and will continue to use it.  The only downfall in this challenge really was the Breakfast Nutrition Calculator, however there is no debate that the added nutrients in WFHO is a great addition to any breakfast.  Additionally the recipes that Vega offers on the Breakfast Challenge Page are really great and include smoothie, pancake and cereal recipes all using WFHO.

Q: What is your favorite flavor of WFHO? Mine is the chocolate!

*Giveaway*

I am giving away one single serving size of WFHO to one lucky CVL reader- all you have to do is tweet “I want to win @cookveganlover @VegaTeam Whole Food Health Optimizer giveaway http://wp.me/pFVWo-2yl #vegabreakfastchallenge” and then come back here and leave a comment letting me know you did so BY September 10, 2011. 

Recipes of the Week: “To Make” Recipes

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This week I am not featuring one of my recipes (I am working on some new ones), rather I am featuring recipes that I want to make.

Roasted Tomato Basil Pesto by Oh She Glows

(I want to veganize this) Harvest Cake with Vanilla by Roost 

Plum Yummy Galette by My New Roots

Ginger Lime Edamame Hummus by Choosing Raw

Coriander Tartines with Coconut-Cilantro Cream Cheese by Golubka

Q: What recipes do you want to try?

Weekend Wrap Up: Labor Day Long Weekend

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Friday Night Coconut Milk Ice Cream with Berries

Lunch at Bristol Cafe

Pre-3Miler Cacao Energy Bite

Post 3Miler- Choco-Banana Vega Smoothie

Lunch in Northampton

No Moo Burnt Caramel Cone

Famous New Haven Spots

Delicious Coffee and some water in New Haven

New Haven Sites

Tasty Pizza and Beer in New Haven

Split a Vegan Cheese Danish and Snowball Cupcake with the Hubz

Ikea Trip

Miso Soup

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

 

September Goal Setting

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Welcome to September a new month filled with new possibilities and tons of apples, squash and colorful leaves. It is also the start of a new month which means new monthly goals.  I honestly didn’t do great at accomplishing all of last months goals but I am really proud of myself for how hard I worked last month while making time for me as well.  For me goals are a guide to keep you on track and I am hoping to accomplish all my goals this month.

My September 2011 Goals

1. Start Training for my first half-marathon.  Two 30-45 minute runs and one mileage run per week PLUS two days of cross training and at least one day of yoga.

2. Meal Plan.  Neil and I are both training for our first half marathon and part of training is eating well and learning what our bodies need.  Additionally, we have 4 months to figure out what the best fuel for us is when it comes to long run days. In order to keep on track we need to continue to improve our diet and incorporate new healthy foods that are good for runners.

3. Organize my kitchen. <—–Did not complete last month. My kitchen is by no means a mess but it just isn’t in top order as I would like it to be.  I actually cleaned out my fridge this morning and it felt great.  Looking forward to doing more.

4. Early to bed, Early to Rise.  <—–Still need to work on. Lately we have been more like Late to Bed, Early to Rise and it is starting to wear on me.  My goal is to be in bed by 9:30pm with my book and read until I fall asleep.  Then up by 5am to work, stretch and/or workout (not necessarily in that order).

5. Read two new books. I haven’t decided which ones yet but I need to read more. I only read one book last month and again did not achieve my goal.

What are your goals for September? 

In Other News

My CVL September Newsletter and my Health & Wellness Newsletter were both distributed today (completely different newsletters). If you haven’t signed up I encourage you to do so today, you can also now subscribe to my newsletters in your reader so you never have to miss a thing.