What I Ate This Week + Workouts

Whoops. I didn't mean to make it a whole week before I posted again! Mah b. At least I'm feeling extra perky this morning!

It was fall break around these parts, and ohemgee. It's actually been feeling like fall!! I've been scouring Pinterest for fall outfit ideas, ways to use pumpkin, and homecoming style ideas. Sorrynotsorry.

Anywho, the temps made waking up for practice and running that much more enjoyable! Yup, I still had to wake up at 7 am this week. Better than 5:45 if you ask me.

Although we didn't get a chance to go to the apple orchard (sadness), it's on the agenda for next weekend, so hopefully it will happen!!!


So heeerree's my list of running workouts done for zis week, along with my breakfast that particular day. Because I love me some breakfast.

Monday: 6 mile progression run with 1 mile cool down. Woooooo my favorite! And I'm not even being sarcastic! I was one of the only JV girls at the practices, and I kept up with a couple of Varsity girls for the first 4 miles - that was quite an accomplishment to me! Plus I had a wicked awesome sprint at the end, thankyouverymuch. Wait, am I allowed to brag?

Breakfast:

Bagel, peanut butter, apple, cinnamon, and coffee. Mmm.

Tuesday: 35 minutes easy on the trails (!!), 6 strides, 7 minute plank workout, 7 minutes of lower body stuff (ex. lunges, squats, step-ups, squat-jumps), and "ultimate football" after practice. I have no comment on the status of my skill level when playing ultimate football.

Breakfast:

This breakfast makes me so happy. Chai-spiced pear overnight oats, topped with Sunbutter and a side of coffee. I was sohungry after that practice (I blame Monday's workout), and my oh my do overnight oats hit the spot.

Wednesday (aka freaking hard day that hurts so bad good): Fartleks! Hooray. 1 mile warm up, 45 minutes of alternating 2 min hard, 2 min easy, 1 mile cool down, and 4X100 sprints. This was one of those practices that you wonder why your coaches are torturing you, and when you finish up, you feel so awesomely awesome and energetic yet your legs are jiggly and sore and all you want is to eat and sleep, but you also want to run around even more. It's peculiar.

Breakfast:

The perfect example of an end-of-summer breakfast: plum oatmeal. It was 1/2 cup oats, 1 cup almond milk, 2 diced plums, and a dash each of salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla. The plums got warm and started oozing out their sweet juices, and it gave the whole bowl a warm, plum compote flavor. Yums. And what could make it better but with a spoonful of Sunbutter?!

Thursday: 35 minutes easy, at home. I didn't have to wake up, yay! Around 11 I headed out for my easy run around the neighborhood, and it was delightful. I still got in 3.5 miles, not bad!

Breakfast:

You guys, I actually made pancakes!!! Kodiak cakes, to be exact. With a side of warm pear slices, sprinkled with cinnamon and nutmeg, and topped with natural peanut butter. Can you tell I'm so ready for fall?? I LOVE PEAR SEASON!

Here's another pic in case you didn't catch that:

I took advantage of the morning off and made a batch of Kodiak cakes (I'm obsessed with the fact that these babies are whole grain, with a fantastic ingredient list, and all you do is add water to make them). I have the rest wrapped up in the freezer for later!

Friday: 35 minutes easy. Self explanatory. Shin splints.

Breakfast: I forgot to take a pic of breakfast this morning, but it was leftover Kodiak cakes with Honeycrisp apple (!!) slices and peanut butter. But in replacement I have a couple of new favorite bars to share with you!

Odwalla Choco-Walla - oh my I think that this replaces my beloved Chocolate Chunk Luna Bar that I haven't seen in ages. It's super chocolatey with big chocolate chunks, almonds, and oats. Plus, I was more than impressed with the ingredient list, because I was kind of expecting it to have some not-so-natural additions, but this was mostly organic and all natural, with no protein isolates. Winner!

I found this ALT Larabar at Target the other day, and it's awesome! This was cinnamon apple crisp flavor, and it didn't disappoint. It really did taste like apple pie! The actual bar is a little bigger and the texture is denser than the original bars, and it's got pea protein in it for the vegan protein punch (10 grams). I have the pumpkin pie flavor as well and I can't wait to try that one!

So tomorrow I have a long run planned, Sunday is a rest day, and Monday is working hard again...

I hope you lovelies have a fabulous Friday!!

What I Ate This Week

It's Friday, kiddos. You know what that means.

There's a meet tomorrow! (Hmmmmm you thought I was going to say the weekend is coming. That would indeed be true if weekends existed in my life right now. Notcomplainin'.)

My coaches worked our BUTTS OFF this week, with sprints and trails and hills and weight room circuits and planks...oohhh the planks....but this makes me feel even more ready for mañana! It's a flat, fast, and familiar course, so my expectations for myself are higher than the last two (coughcough PR coughcough). Luckily yesterday and today were super easy runs. 

Even though I've been leaning towards the more fitness-y side lately, I did make time this week for good eats! As always. When posting about food, I generally join in on WIAW, sometimes I'll just post a pic if it's too delicious not to share ASAP, but today you're just gonna see what I've been eating through the week.

(Note: my settings and pics are kind of blah. Apologies - aesthetics aren't at the top of my priorities at midnight o' clock and the crack of dawn...only yumminess. :))

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Breakfasts 

One morning was a pancake waffle stack and coffee with a splash of soy milk french vanilla creamer (<---that stuff is good).

 Waffle, warm apples and cinnamon, waffle, warm apples and cinnamon, topped off with a glob of natural peanut butter.

Running-late breakfast: thick chewy delicious (aka bottom) half of a whole wheat bagel, banana, peach, peanut butter, and cinny-mon. Coffee and soy milk creamer x2 on the side.

Mmmm...carby cinnamony peanuty goodness.

Hot oooooooaaaaaaattttttssss. I've only had hot oats once in two weeks! Who am I?!

This darling bowl was 1/3 cup oats, 1 cup almond milk, 1/2 banana, chopped peach, cinnamon and nutmeg, dash of salt, and, of course, peanut butter. It was a bowl of sunshine.

Lunches/Snacks

Obviously I eat lunch at school and have to have snacks, so here's a look at what I've eat to fuel me morning through pre-practice.

Typical lunch: turkey+veggie+hummus wrap, side salad (dressing already on), an apple, and something extra just in case I'm still a little hungry. That day was a homemade granola bar, mmm.

Chickpea salad. Chickpeas, brown rice, canned tomatoes, carrots, dressing (olive oil+lemon juice+salt+pepper+paprika) on top of spinach. 

Along with my lunches, I pack a bunch of snacks to munch on because I'm hungry at least three times during the day. Here I had trailmix (pre-practice), an apple, a clementine, a homemade granola bar, and a dark chocolate coconut Kashi bar.

Here we have a turkey+hummus+veggie wrap, carrots, an apple, and salsa for dippin' (lunch). I also through in an Uber Larabar (midmorning), a half a Clif Bar, and trailmix (pre-practice). 

Dinners

Cassie's penne rosa pasta with shrimp that I'm completely obsessed with - I had this the night before a race. Carbing up, yo. 

One night after a particularly tough practice, my stomach needed something light but also packed a nutrition/protein punch - quinoa salad with roasted veggies! My heavens it was delicious and completely hit the spot. Recipe to come.

Pasta again!!!!! Mom made spaghetti and meat sauce, and I layered spinach under the sauce cuz I love me some veggies.

Snacks/Desserts

I actually don't really like celery, but one day I was just feelin' celery and peanut butter. Eaten in 2nd period.

Mmm best nighttime snack. Yogurt, banana, and.....peanut butter.

Larabars make a regular appearance, all but replacing my beloved Luna Bars!

And chocolate wouldn't be complete without a cup of java. At least I don't think it would!!

So there you go darlings! Wish me luck at my meet tomorrow!!

Because cats are the best.

HaPpY mOnDaY!!

Only one week until September break. I can make it.

I. Can. Make it.

So guuueeess what? I was nominated by the totally amazingly awesome Miranda for the Sunshine Award!

Rules:

1. Include award logo in a post on your blog.

2. Link to the person who nominated you.

3. Answer 10 questions about yourself.

4. Nominate 10 bloggers for the award.

Kids, it made my day to be nominated! Thank you so much, Miranda! And I do love surveys. I mean, what girl doesn't like to talk about herself (ya'll know what I mean ;)).

Without further ado, here is my questionnaire:

1. Who is your healthy living inspiration?

Why are the first questions always hard?! A lot of my healthy living inspiration came first and foremost from my nutritionist from when I was inpatient. She taught me so much about myself, the relationship between food, mind, and body, and was closer to my heart than anyone on my team. The past few years it's been pretty much the entire healthy living blog community, but it really started when I found Kath's blog.

2. If you could succeed at one thing, what would it be?

Hmm...singing and dancing. I've always wanted a beautiful singing voice, and ballerinas and dancers really captivate me - it's such a beautiful art. I was always too tomboy-ish/clumsy to get into that though.

3. Would you rather always be believed or always be right?

Always be right. But wouldn't we all? ;)

4. Do you like wearing matching clothes to workout, or do you just throw on whatever?

It really depends. At practice, I do like for my shirt and shorts to at least work together, but I do have a couple of tanks and shorts that need to match. On the weekends/long runs I really don't pay attention to what I have on except that it's comfy.

5. What's your go-to fitness routine? 

Running and weights all the way, baby (have you read my sidebar? ;)). I specifically like sprint intervals and long runs, and I love doing quick 10-minute arms/abs routines.

6. Would you rather get everything free from Reebok or Lululemon?

I've never really gotten anything from either, but after I did some online browsing, I'd say Reebok. It's more my style, and a little comfier looking. Guess I'll have to try to find out!

I really like this one! Source

7. What's your dream job?

I've mentioned it a few times before, but it's still a toss up between Registered Nurse and Registered Dietitian. I've been leaning more towards nursing, but lately I've gotten back into wanting to be in the field of nutrition! If I were an RN, I'd work in a hospital or general practitioner office, and if I were an RD, I would definitely work out of a private practice (a community RD).

8. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?

Spain. I love the Spanish language, culture, food, architecture - everything.

Barcelona, Spain. source

9. What's the biggest healthy living tip you could give to someone?

Try new things and trust yourself. Whether it's joining a new sport, trying a new food, or even changing your hair color, it's always okay to take leaps of faith! That's where the trusting yourself comes in. :)

10. What's a random fact about you?

I'm really afraid of dogs. Big dogs, small dogs, nice dogs, fluffy dogs - they just scare me. I refused to go on a long run the other day before I looked up "canine body language" (I can't believe I just publicly announced that) because I have no way of distinguishing whether a dog is happy to see me or about to charge. #catladyprobs

Explains my title!

Whew. That was fun! Part of the rules is nominating 10 other bloggers for the award, and giving them 10 questions to answer! I nominaaattteee....*drumroll*

Sunnie (see what I did there?), Emily, Shannon, Amanda, Ellie, Amy, Brittany, Laura, Robyn, and Alison!! Yay guys!

I want ya'll to answer the questions that Miranda gave me because 1.) They're really good! and 2.) I'm really bad at coming up with questions. Have fun ladies, and thanks again Miranda!

Top of the Rock Recap

This post is going to be short and sweet, but I really wanted to share a race recap! This was my second race, and man did I have a much better time than the first one.

It was 45 minutes away (which was quite nice compared to the last one which was an hour and a half away without traffic) - I woke up at 6:00, stuffed a banana with peanut butter in my face, and we were off.

The JV boys ran first (I didn't really have an opportunity to take pictures of the experience, as I was busy warming up/cheering on/ and, well, racing), and about halfway through the JV girls started their warm up.

Come 8:45, it was JV girls' turn to head off.

Just know that you can't see me in this pic.

We ran at a greaaattt time because the temperature was perfect. I actually had a sweatshirt on before we ran because it was that perfectly crisp autumn air. Love love love it. 

Anyways, even though I feel like I've been doing XC for many years, this was only my second race, and it was a learning experience once again. 

For instance, I learned that I am not very good at finding my place in the beginning of the race. I am great at keeping pace, and great at pulling through with a strong finish, but I cannot seem to figure out how to get up to a good placement at the beginning. *Take note for later.

Ahhhh this run was so much freaking better than my first. No shin splints or runner's knee or sore calves/thighs/entire body. The course was in a field that was pretty much flat.

Except the race wasn't named "Top of the Rock" for no reason. At the 1.25 mile mark came...the rock.

You guys, this was a hill. Like a super steep, rocky, trail-blazed hill. It reminded me of the hill that we do repeats on *shudder* only longer and more winding. Luckily I had a girl from my team to partner up with and we trekked up the hill pretty quickly. We were winded, but not dying. I guess hill repeats aren't only for pain....

After passing the "top," I zoomed down like nobody's business. At least it felt like that. :)

Once I passed the 2-mile mark was when I sort of mentally blocked myself. There was someone I needed to pass/catch up to, but I was scared that I wouldn't be able to because of how far ahead she was. This is where the fact that I need to get better placement in the beginning comes in, because my coach wanted me in the top 5 JV girls for our team running. 

I finished up the race in 26:50 (PR), 7th on our JV team, and 26th overall with 100/150 girls. Not too shabby, even though I was expected to come in with the top five JV girls. I'll admit I was a little annoyed/upset/frustrated/whatever about the fact that I didn't manage that, because I know I could have if I had pushed myself. But I know that I need to push myself harder, and I didn't obsess about it like I'm prone to doing. It just gives me another goal to work up to. :)

After my race, the varsity boys and girls went in the blazing sun (poor kids...). But they were troopers, and the boys landed in first place with the girls in second! JV girls also earned second place!

On zee way home, I scarfed down my Clif Bar that Mommy packed for meeeee. I had already had a banana/chocolate milk post-race about an hour earlier.

Here's a little look at Georgia countryside:

A mound built by Indians...spiffy.

All in all, it was a good race, I definitely learned what I need to change, and I have some new goals for this week. I can't wait for this week's practices so I can get even stronger and more ready for next weekend's race.

Peace out, girl scouts.

Weekly Workouts

Happy Friday!

So I thought that since I've been running cross country for a month, I'd give you guys a peek into what life and training is like. It's another picture-lacking post, so please try to bear with me as I figure out the time and ability to take pictures!

I have practice every single day, and generally run both Saturday and Sunday unless we don't have a race, or I skip my long run (which I normally don't do, because they're my favorite). It's pretty exhausting, I'll admit, but definitely worth it. I think I'm finally getting my mojo.

Here's how my week looked training/fitness-wise leading up to a race:

Monday (Labor Day): We obviously weren't at school, so the team met at a park with a gravel path for our workout at 8am. Which is so much better than waking up at 5:30. Perspective.

We did our usual lunge matrix (a combo of front, side, 45-degree turn, and back lunges on both legs), and then proceeded to complete a 6-mile progression run. These are my favorite types of workouts because it means I can run for a while and set my own paces while pushing myself. Plus, it was cool and rainy (not drizzly - like seriously raining), and we were soaked by the end. It was nice to go home for the rest of the day, though!

Tuesday: Oh Lord. Guys, this was one of the most physically and mentally draining practices I've done so far!

Two words: hill repeats. OH WAIT, two more words: 86 degrees.

There are trails behind the middle school (which is right across from the high school) that we do our hill workouts on. I do not look forward to hill workouts - they are a struggle for me. Basically it's a rolling terrain with two big hills that you have to push yourself up, and it's really draining energy-wise for me. But it's to get stronger so I just make myself.

Anyways, two sets of four. Short, to the point. 8 repeats and 30 minutes in total. Yeah, there were "omg I might pass out or throw up or cry" moments frequently throughout. But what's done is done - we rounded it off with about 20 minutes in the weight room of arms and legs workouts.

Wednesday: To keep from getting wordy, I'll be a little more brief on this one: Wednesdays are our long sprint/track workouts, and our first morning practice of the week - we start our warm-up at 6:15am. I'm really straining to remember what we did. It's early. 

Oh wait! It literally just came to me - after our warm up, we started off with a mile tempo run (time was 8:36, which is slower for me), then did 20 minutes of alternating hard running and slow jogging for a minute each, and then ended with another mile tempo (time was 8:30 flat! Can't seem to get out of the 8 minute range). Zen off to zee locker rooms. I was really exhausted all day, probably from Tuesday's workout.

Thursday: Finally our easy day! We went on a mile warm up, because our coach was trying to trick us into thinking we were doing a hard workout. We ended up just going for a 30 minute easy run, then came back and did 4 strides (another favorite of mine), and then an ab workout (what do you know, another favorite! Makes up for hill repeats). By this point my makeup is normally running into my eyes and buuurrrnniiinngg.

Friday: Morning practice numero dos. Fridays are always easy, and this Friday was especially easy because the race was 24 hours later. We did a mile warm up, then 6x200 (with a 200 cool down) and then a mile cool down run. We finished up super early! More time to get ready, yo.

So there you have it! Saturdays are race days, and Sundays are long runs for 60-70 minutes at an easy peasy pace. Muy bien.

I've got some more posts up my sleeve, including my race recap that will hopefully be up tomorrow, and my WIAW poooooosssttt. Yay-uh.

Happy weekend, darlings!

Labor Day Lazies...

Bonjour, mes fleurs!

So I knoooww I left you with a pretty heavy post yesterday, but hey, I really really felt the need to be honest.

But fear not, I had a great Labor Day weekend and I hope ya'll did too!

Saturday, the varsity guys and gals headed out for a race (one of the perks of being on JV....not competing in all the races), so I planned a long run in replacement. I woke up at 7:30 and headed out....

An hour and 6 miles later, I arrived home happy happy happy. It was really nice out, I ran without music, so it was just me, nature, and my thoughts. Long runs are mi favorita!

Raahhh why does my hair never stay semi-flat like this at practice?!

Upon return, I toasted myself a bagel and topped it with a shmear of almond butter, a drizzle of honey, w/ a banana and teacup of magically delicious coffee. Do you see the smile??

I had a few appointments to knock out (nutritionist and hair), and munched on this baby Clif bar plus some trailmix mid-morning. I think the baby bars are so cute!

Mom had some errands to run while Reibs and I got our hair done. It took two hooouuurrsss, but my bangs are no longer a shag and my hair isn't tri-colored anymore! Whippee!

Mommy brought Chic-fil-e that I had along with snow peas and carrots. :) I'm always prepared!

Annndd when I got home I did...nothing. Actually, I knocked out like 5 episodes of Under the Dome because I've been way behind because of my busy craziness. 

Sunday I had to wake up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed around 7 because Reibs and I were helping volunteer at my church. 

Overnight oats in a sunbutter jar yayayayayay!

Sorry for the gross iPod pictures. Even an iPhone would be better than an iPod (touch).

And the rest of the day pretty much proceeded like Saturday. I got through another two episodes of Under the Dome, and man is it getting suspenseful! I actually cried a little bit in the end of one! It reminds me so much of Lost because of the mystery/suspense of the plot line, and when it seems like one question is explained, another is raised. Jessica like.

Monday I had morning practice, which we did in the pouring rain. It was a progression run, meaning we start at an easy pace, and cut 30 seconds off our pace for each mile. The last mile should be race pace, and we did this for a total of 6 miles, including a last cool down mile. I think the rain made it more enjoyable, honestly. Unlike the impending hill workout I know we have tomorrow.....

Anywho, I refueled with another bagel and banana. Recycle photo, for the win!

The rest of the day was homework filled, mostly A&P worksheets that I didn't finish in class. 

Oh oh oh! And I made my friend cupcakes for her birthday. Homemade frosting, yuuuumm. 

Adios amigos! 

So I've been doing some thinking.

Oh guys. This is is gonna be one of those posts where...you know, it's just hard for me to type up.

It's one of those posts where I know what I want to say, but don't really know how to put it into words, and one of those posts where I get really raw and am not sure if I want to share my thoughts with the world or not.

(Just to let you know, there hasn't been some tragedy or sad event that's happened in my personal life, in case you were wondering. This is more within myself.)

But I've been doing some thinking. Namely, recovery thinking. You all know my history and struggles and what not, but have I really been honest with myself lately?

People, I joined the cross country team. I run and I love it and it makes me happy and did I mention I love it. That's perfectly fine!

I eat super duper healthy. I love healthy food and it makes me happy and I did I mention I love it. And that's perfectly fine! (Nut butter lovers, holla!)

BUT fsjdipgjpdifjasklfmsdp[gw]kp.

Let's get to the point. I am so incredibly happy and blessed in the season of my life. But guys, here comes the doozy that hurts my pride and self esteem to admit: I am not 100% recovered.

With the blog, I mention time and time again that I am not fully recovered, but even in those phrases or rants that I go on, I show you all my heart through rose-colored glasses. I talk myself through my frustrations (one of the benefits of a blog) and act like I'm working so hard and everything is just going to be super duper because heck yes, I'm kicking Ed's butt!

But here's the sad truth that I've been slowly realizing after appointments with my therapist, nutritionist, and even just knowing within myself - I've been in a really comfortable, complacent place in my recovery for way too long. I'm at a healthy weight, I have the a-okay to run as much as I please, and those two things pretty much ruled what I thought was true recovery. I'm also off of blind weights (huge accomplishment, guys), I always always make sure to fuel well before and after running, and I'm okay with desserts. But since I've reached these goals, it's not all that matters in true recovery. And it sucks to realize that.

I've actually maintained about 90% of my healthy weight for over a year. I should be 100% or more (because 100% is the 'average' weight for my age/height). I thought this was okay.

I still have amenhorrea (NO BUENO). I've been telling myself that I'll get my period back eventually, but if you're not at healthy weight, it won't. And I want kids in my (far far off) future. I thought waiting would be okay.

Omg while we're still chugging along on the honesty train I'm just going to admit it: I worry about calories if I feel I've gone too high, and while I'm not scared of a healthy weight per say, I'm just scared of spiraling out of control. I thought being at a "comfortable" weight was okay.

This is not okay.

I actually discovered and read these two posts from Amanda's blog, which is what compelled me to even write this at all. They so perfectly describe the situation I'm in that I felt like I was literally breaking my own heart reading them. I just....hurt. My heart, my head, my pride, everything I that I felt I had been working towards. I felt like my accomplishments were not accomplishments at all.

When I think about this, I feel like a failure.

I think what hurts the most is I literally don't know how to get myself out of this place, because  95% percent of the time, I feel great! I love my whole grains and healthy foods, and I love running, and I have other interests outside of those things as well. Making healthy choices and exercise is a part of life, but I have trouble figuring out how to fit in that last 5%, and what it really even is/means for me.

I think about Kath, Robyn, Amanda, and Miranda and think, "What the heck is different about me than them?!" (Okay, comparing isn't exactly the healthiest mindset, but I'm trying to prove a point.)

So anyways. I'm in kind of a tough position with myself right now. I've got some thinking and praying to do - because I'm tired of living comfortably if I'm not living to my full potential. There's just one more step.