Sprint 2 the Table

Appetites and Adventures

Asian Cabbage with Lentils

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Going back to work post-vacation is like jumping into a cold pool.

This is my nice, warm-fuzzies “pool” in Verona

I had every intention of posting a wonderful recap of our first full day in Verona; however, I left the office last night at 1:30 AM.

I love the job that allowed me to have a great vacation.

I love the job that allowed me to have a great vacation.

I love the job that allowed me to have a great vacation.

I love the job that allowed me to have a great vacation.

I love the job that allowed me to have a great vacation.

The good news is that I have been cooking!  No pasta and meat after the 2 week overload.

Italian restaurants are void of fresh fruits and veggies.  I have been in hot pursuit of green food after going so long without.   Seriously – the  very night I flew into Atlanta I hit the Dekalb Farmer’s Market (a.k.a. veggie heaven).  $60 of nothing but fruits and veggies.

I tried my hand at a cabbage stir-fry over the weekend.  It was so good that I ate 1/2 a head of cabbage in one sitting.  FYI: that may cause gas.

Yes, I did say that I am on a veggie rampage… but this was actually just that good.  I think.

The hint of sweetness from the coconut oil played perfectly with the zing from the ginger and the heat from the serrano.  Don’t skip the toasted sesame seeds – their crunchy nutty taste really made the dish.  It would probably be good with toasted cashews too!

Asian Cabbage Stir-Fry with Lentils

  • 1 tsp coconut oil
  • 1/2 small red onion, diced
  • 2 garlic cloves, pressed
  • 1 T minced fresh ginger
  • 1/2 serrano pepper, minced
  • 1/2 medium cabbage, quartered, and sliced crosswise
  • 1 1/2 T seasoned rice wine vinegar
  • 1 tsp soy sauce
  • 1/2 C cooked green lentils
  • 1 tsp toasted sesame seeds
  • 1/4 tsp Chinese 5-spice
  • S+P, to taste

Heat coconut oil in a large skillet over medium heat.  Add red onion and stir-fry until just becoming soft, ~3 mins.  Add garlic, ginger, and serrano pepper.  Saute for a moment – until fragrant but not cooked, 45 secs – 1 min.  Stir in cabbage and stir-fry until beginning to wilt, ~3-4 mins.

Stir in the vinegar, soy sauce, and lentils.  Continue to cook, stirring, until the cabbage is tender but retains a slight bite, ~4-5 mins.  Sprinkle with sesame seeds and 5-spice.  Salt and pepper to taste.

Makes 2 servings.

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I’m in an all day meeting in Alabama now.  Seriously.

How do you get back into the “real” world post-vaca?  I need all the help I can get!

What veggies do you crave? 

Kicking and Screaming

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I came back to America.

That doesn’t mean I’m happy about it though!  Have you ever gone somewhere and felt like it’s where you were meant to be?

That was Alba, Italy for me.

Over the next few days I’ll recap the many adventures we had over 14 days.  For now I’ll just say it was the trip of a lifetime.

We were lucky in so many ways – from navigating train stations to getting private tours of wine cellars to making friends with winemakers.

Let’s start at the beginning: overnight AirFrance flight to Verona (via Paris).

We were well-prepared with out neck supports, magazines, iPods, eReaders, etc.  First hint we over-packed: the neck thingys were the only travel items used.

Dinner time!

First wine of the trip

Our airplane feast

Ummmm… let’s just say it’s a little cruel to begin a food and wine trip with such foul food and wine. 😉

Packing snacks was a brilliant idea

The view of the Alps was incredible!

Finally, in the promised land of food and wine.

Most people would take a nap after all that travel.  We aren’t most people.

3 quick showers and a chat with the Bed & Breakfast owner.  Now we’re on our way to the Verona city center for drinks and an appetizer at recommended stop #1:

Antica Bottega del Vino

One of each, please!

I have died and gone to cheese heaven

My first glass of wine was an Amarone Masi.  It was incredible – deep raisin taste, thick, and layered with flavor.

This place proved to be key because we met a new friend – Tim.  Tim was there on business, but his family is from the area.  Lucky us – he offered to meet up and guide us later!

We also learned the historic Bottega opened a location in NYC.  I smell a trip in our future. 🙂

Dinner was at Antico Verona.  It apparently had changed names, so we had a fun walk trying to FIND it (at least we burned off the first drink).

Our reward to locating this place:

Valpolicella Superiore is less expensive Amarone – same grapes, different process.  It is lighter and the raisin taste is less prevalent.  Still delicious – it’s a good “drinking” wine.

Dinner was okay – not the best meal we’d have, but not bad.

Steak, sautéed veggies, pasta with black truffles

Never a dull moment, the old electrical system meant the lights went out in the restaurant periodically.  I wish I spoke Italian because every time they went out, the table next to us would sing a song I couldn’t understand.  It added to the adventure – especially when the lights went out while in the bathroom.

HUGE thanks to the fabulous guest posters who helped me out while I was gone.  In case you missed any, here is a listing:

Advice for those of you going on extend trips abroad: beg for recruit guest bloggers.  I had very good intentions of blogging while away, but Internet and time is far too unpredictable.

Please check out these rockin’ ladies – you may discover your new favorite blog! 🙂

In other news, this weekend was Atlanta Pride.  It is the first year I’ve brought a green beverage to the park.

Butternut Squash-Banana Smoothie

  • 1/2 C butternut squash
  • 1/2 banana
  • 1 scoop vanilla protein powder
  • 1/4 tsp almond extract
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 handful spinach
  •  Ice + milk/water, to taste

As usual, the people watching was rich.

Rawr

I NEED these shoes!

Happy Pride, ATL!

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I’m shoveling fresh fruits and veggies in my mouth by the handful – they were SO hard to find in Northern Italy.

Did you enjoy the guest posters?  Did you discover anyone new?  

Have you ever traveled somewhere and felt such a strong connection to it you almost stayed? 

Fall Workout Must Haves

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Important announcement: I’m moving to Italy.

Maybe not… but I can dream!  We are on a plane back to the U.S. right now.  It’s been a crazy, amazingly fun trip and I cannot wait to share it with you all!

Source: blog.delta.com

Heather @ Girly Ever After is today’s special guest.  The Atlanta bloggers have really come through for me!  She is a recent addition to our “blogger get-together” crew.  Very cool fact: she is training to be an Esthetician!  I have especially appreciated all of her helpful skin care tips (my “back-acne” = cured!) as I’ve gotten to know her/read her blog.

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Hey! I’m Heather from Girly Ever After.

When Laura asked me to do a guest post for her while she’s in Italy I was more than excited!  I read her blog daily so I can’t wait to hear all about her trip.  I plan on living vicariously through her while holding down the fort in Atlanta.

The beginning of Fall tends to be slightly awkward when trying to figure out what to wear when you’re thinking of working out.  A lot of people skip the treadmill for great outdoor runs in the crisp Autumn air, but what do you wear with the unpredictable weather?  It’s chilly when you start out but will get warm the longer you run.  It may be a bit windy and overcast is usually a big issue too.

With so many factors to think about I thought I’d give a few of my “Fall workout must haves” to help you transition your workout gear for the season.

 

Wind Jacket
Lightweight jackets with very little lining are perfect for those days that are too chilly for just a t- shirt and keep you warm. A wind jacket is great water protection too for those rainy days. A wind jacket is better than a cotton long sleeve shirt because of the breathable material that will keep you from getting hot during your workout.


Reflective Gear

This is great to have year round in general, but especially in the months where days are getting shorter. Though we haven’t officially hit the time change it seems that Fall brings darker mornings, overcast days, and lots of black workout gear. If you’re like me the majority of your cool weather gear is black or a dark color. Running in the dark with dark clothes is a disaster waiting to happen so it’s best to wear some sort of reflective gear. I know the first thing that comes to mind is a cross guard vest, but that’s not what I’m talking about. There are tons of great and lightweight items you can wear that don’t have to be clothing. Removable arm bands, reflective straps, headlamps, etc. Each one is great for an early morning and even just to be safe during the day.

 

Warm Socks

A lot of times socks are an after thought when they’re actually really important. They can make or break a great workout since they are the only things between you and your shoes. If your socks aren’t comfortable, the right size, or the wrong fabric it can cause distractions and be really uncomfortable which leads to an unproductive run. The best socks to get in the cooler temps are those with synthetic fabrics. These help to wick away moisture keeping your feet warmer. Cotton socks keep your feet cold if they get wet from sweat or rainy weather and can create blistering.

 

All workout attire is, of course, based on preference of the person, but when you’re comfortable it makes for a more enjoyable time.

 

Happy outdoor exercising!

***

 I love that Heather wrote about this – I am NOT an expert. 🙂

Do you have any cooler-weather workout tips to share?

What is your favorite “workout” season?

 

Remembering Your Passion

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I can’t believe we are on our last leg!  Today we are in the Tuscan region and are headed to a wine tour in Montepulciano.  Vino Nobile is this area’s best known wine.  The guide is the same on we had yesterday for a Brunello di Montacino tour.  If the tour is anything like that one, it should be an amazing day.  We ended up “kidnapping” the girlfriend of one of the winemakers and everyone shared a magnum bottle of some amazing vino.  Only in Siena…
You Twlight fans may recognize this town… it was used as the setting for Volterra in New Moon.  (Yes, I had to Google that.)
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I am lucky to have Carol @ Lucky Zucca as my guest.  Carols is one of the newer (to me) Atlanta bloggers and I have loved getting to know her through our last couple of meet ups and email exchanges.  We ever had the opportunity to run a race together already!  Carol has the best outlook on life of anyone I know.  Just reading her posts will put you in a better mood!
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Hey there, Sprint 2 the Table Readers!  I am too excited to have the chance to guest post for Laura while she is in Italy.  I’m so jealous!  I spent a year living there while I obtained my M.A. degree, and I haven’t had the chance to go back yet (it has been 2 & 1/2 years!).

Editor's note: I am eating LOTS of this for you all.

Anyways, us being super jealous of Laura unfortunately isn’t going to get us stowed away in her luggage, so moving on.
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My name is Carol and I blog over at Lucky Zucca.  My blog started out as a happiness journal and concentrated on all the things that made me happy each day.  Anything from a delicious breakfast to a good workout to chats with friends to more serious topics like how to overcome bad attitudes can show up over there.  The main theme is simply to be happy and thankful for what we’ve got, even when things seem all wrong.  In my opinion, finding little things to be joyful about is such a better way to live your life than concentrating on the bad.
I hope that anyone that visits my blog is inspired to find those things in their life that make them happy, even when times seem grim.  I’ve grown and matured with my blog, and it actually is what helped me get through a difficult time in my life.  I was struggling with who I was as a person, and through blogging, I reconnected with the things that make me who I am.  I started reading again, began crafting more, started cooking and baking more often, hosting dinner parties for my friends, and exercising more consistently.  Many things I had somehow lost touch with quickly came back to me when I started thinking about what made me happiest.
So, how can you do that?  How can you get back in touch with your passions?  I think the first step is to take a few moments, either at the beginning or the end of each day and think on the things that recently made you happy.  Things you found joy in.  Did you love that walk you took with your friend outside?  Did you enjoy relaxing and reading a new book?  Maybe group sports are your thing, maybe it is a favorite TV show.  Do you find cooking therapeutic or daunting?  Are you really interested in different types of beers?  (Editor’s note: she knows me too well already…)
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Figure out what makes you happy, relaxed, and stress-free, and concentrate on those things.  Look for things you’ve enjoyed for all your life (or, if it’s the beer thing, all of your adult life :D).  Make time for those things and be sure to live in the moment and enjoy them while you’re doing them.
I was struggling with making time for everyone else and not making time for myself.  When I did have time to myself, I abused it by lazing around, watching mindless television I didn’t enjoy, and essentially wasting my life away.  I thought I was fulfilled because of the people that surrounded me, instead I was void because I was ignoring my own passions.  Making time for ourselves is one of the best ways we can invest our time.

Love yourself!

Though I still post about those things that make me the happiest, I also sometimes post about how we can find happiness in our lives.  My blog has become a project of self-actualization, and a journey that I hope you all will join me on!  As I’ve become more self-actualized myself, I’ve realized that sharing how I got from where I was (bored, un-invested, and not passionate about most things) to where I am now (excited again, re-invested, and passionate about many things) could potentially help someone else.  So, I try to share my thought processes, things I do to get over the speed bumps we all encounter, and spread a positive attitude.
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My passions are being outdoors, adventure (hiking, biking, skydiving, bungee jumping, roller coasters, etc.), exercise, cooking and baking, reading, crafts, dinner parties with my friends, travel, animals and pushing myself to succeed.  I’ve connected so well with Laura because she is passionate about many of the same things – namely food, exercise, and pushing herself for success.  I believe if you look at the happiest people in the world, you will find that they respect themselves, respect their bodies, and engage in their passions.  Reading Laura’s blog has reinforced to me the theme that we can do anything we put our minds to.  Her exercise success, cooking successes, and overall positive attitude are inspiring and I admire these things about her the most!
Lucky Zucca is a little different from Sprint2theTable, (mainly that Laura is much better at exercise than I and much more experienced in the kitchen! 😉 – Editor’s note: I think you rock, Carol!) but we embrace the same ideals: a positive outlook and pushing yourself to become successful.  Dedicating your life to your loves and passions.
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Over at Lucky Zucca, I love to do book reviews, crafting how-to’s, share recipes, document great workouts, and talk about fun activities my friends and I engage in.  If any of that interests you, I’d love for you to stop by and leave a comment so we can discuss the things that make you happy!

It's a real party over there!

Thanks for taking the time to read my guest post, and I hope to see you around the blog world soon! And a special thanks to Laura for such an amazing opportunity!
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I wish Carol would call me every morning for a dose of happiness.
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Your turn – what makes you happy?  
(My answer is far to obvious tight now… cheers!)

Pumpkin Pie Milkshake

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Just another day in paradise… errr… Italy.  Specifically,  Siena!  We’ve been so excited to see this area.  (More) Great food, medieval history, and Gothic architecture.

I was lucky enough to discover Ari’s blog, ThE DiVa DiSh, a few months back and have looked forward to reading every day.  She has the MOST beautiful little girl I’ve ever seen (and I’m not just saying that), complete with a ton of spunk.  Ari is an innovator – whether it’s doing her own “design on a dime” or creating a healthy meal that looks like a fat kid’s heaven, I can always count on her for inspiration and a good recipe.

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Hey Guys!

My name is Ari and I blog over at ThE DiVa DiSh!

I am so excited that I have the opportunity to guest post for Laura today! I am super jealous of her trip adventures right, and secretly wished she would have taken me in her luggage so I could join her….

Maybe next time. (Editor’s note – for sure!) 🙂  As for now, I’m excited to share a little bit about me and my amazing family.

 

I’m a wifey and a mama, and there is nothing I love more. My husband is a cross between a woman who loves shoes and a man who loves sports… And my daughter is beautiful, dramatic, and full of energy. I try best to raise my family living a healthy lifestyle, and we feel that our bodies are temples, and we should treat them that way. We try to eat an abundance of plant based, whole, and natural foods as much as possible.

Even though we go through a Costco size spinach package in two days, I can assure you the same goes for chocolate. We know how to live and be happy, as well as love and respect the bodies we have been given.

One of my favorite kitchen tools is my blender. I had to do many “I ain’t gonna talk about” things so I could convince my hubby to get me the blender of my dreams. I use that thing at least twice a day.

That being said, one of my favorite things to make is a milkshake! It’s hard enough when we crave foods we love, and we try and tell ourselves we can’t have them. This only makes it harder, and in the end we are more likely to give in to those “butt” shakes, as I like to call them. Well my friends, I can assure you that there will be no more worrying. No more telling yourself, your kids, or even your hubby NO!

Healthy, natural, whole, yummy milkshakes!

S’mores Milkshake

Carrot Cake Milkshake

Coconut Vanilla Chai Milkshake

And lastly, how about a seasonal one?

Pumpkin Pie Milkshake

Ingredients:

1 c. coconut or soymilk

1 banana

½ c. pumpkin puree

1 carrot finely shredded

1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

2 tsp. molasses

1 TB. 100% pure maple syrup

1 TB. vanilla

Directions:

Blend all together until creamy! Sip and enjoy!

There you have it! Now go get your milkshake on! (you never know, it might bring some boys to the yard…)

Did I really just end with that?

(Editor’s note – Yes.  I could teach you, but I’d have to charge.)

Thanks again Laura for giving me this opportunity!  Have a great and safe trip!

***

I’m going to make one of these with gelato… mmmmm…

What is your favorite milkshake flavor?

Do you they to “healthify” your favorite shake flavors?

North Indian Menu Vocab

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Ciao!  Today we were going to be in Cinque Terre, a mountainous area along the Italian Riviera… which I hear is stunning… but we were cramming SO much in that we decided to skip it.  Next time!  In stead we are on the overnight train to Siena.

We made lots of friends in Alba and the surrounding areas, many of which are from other countries – Japan, Mexico, America, Denmark, and Sweden (to name a few).  It makes me want to quit my job and move to Italia too!  I could work in a kitchen making creations like pumpkin soup with parmesan gelato. (Yes, it was as amazing as it sounds).

Today’s post is by Parita @ My Inner Shakti.  Funny enough, we went to MBA school together (Go Jackets!)… but I didn’t know she was a blogger!  Parita’s blog is a bright spot in my daily reading – she is one of the most positive people I know.  

Another tidbit: she’s recently engaged!  Visit her blog to read all about it and see the cool outfit you get to wear in Indian wedding ceremonies.

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Hi, Sprint 2 the Table readers!

My name is Parita, and I blog over at myinnershakti.  I’m honored to have the opportunity to guest blog for Laura as she wines and dines in Italy!  Who am I kidding… I’m honored and very jealous!

 

My blog is really about a hodgepodge of things that are important to me – exercise, food, travel, my fiancé, my family and friends…simply put, life!  One day, I’ll blog about a newfound recipe and the next day I’ll write about my upcoming wedding.  I love to keep my readers guessing!

 

Laura’s blog has become a daily must read for me.  And not just because we went to the same business school, but because it leaves me drooling, laughing, or some combination of the two.  Every.  Single.  Time.  If you’re an avid reader as well, the one thing you definitely know about Laura is that she’s a foodie – through and through.  AND she loves her Indian food!  So, when I read her email about guest posting, I knew exactly what I wanted to share with her readers – North Indian Menu Vocab!

 

Source

Dining at an Indian restaurant can be daunting… even for Indians, so I’m going to do my best to walk you through some of the more common words you’ll find on most any menu.  After reading this post, you’ll be ready to take on any North Indian restaurant. 😉

Let’s get started…

 

Ingredients:

Murg/Murgh – Chicken

Aloo – Potato

Mutter – Peas

Palak – Spinach

Chole/Channa – Chickpeas

Malai – Cream

Ghee – Clarified butter

Paneer – Curd cheese (absolutely delicious)

Masala – A spice mix that can range from mild to extremely spicy

Garam masala – A popular spice blend that includes black and white peppercorn, cumin, nutmeg, cinnamon, clove, and a bunch of other things.

 

Source

Breads:

Naan – Soft, thick Indian bread

Chapati/Roti – Thin, tortilla like bread usually made with wheat flour

Bhatura – Large, soft, puffy deep fried bread usually eaten with Channa Masala (chickpeas in a spicy masala sauce).  The smaller version is called a puri.

 

Appetizers:

Pakoras – Vegetables (cauliflower, onion, potato, chilies) coated in a thick batter and deep fried until golden brown.

Tikka – Tikka means chunks.  For example, chicken tikka is chunks of chicken marinated in a yogurt sauce and cooked in the tandoor.  Paneer tikka is one of my all-time favorite dishes. (Editor’s note – this is my fav too!!!)

Papad – A crunchy and spicy Indian tortilla generally eaten as an appetizer or alongside the main dish.

Tikkis – Cutlets made from mashed up vegetables.  My favorite way to eat tikkis is in a chickpea stew.

 

Source

Sauces:

Kadai – A yogurt based curry that includes onions, tomatoes, and bell pepper.

Korma – A creamy yogurt based sauce made with cream, nuts, and coconut milk.

Saag – Leafy greens cooked in masalas.

Makhani – A sauce where tomatoes are the stars of the show and butter and cream are the sidekicks.

Malai – A cream based sauce also made with onions, garlic, ginger, and garam masala.

Jalfrezi – A sauce made by frying all the ingredients and using little cream to thicken everything up.

Vindaloo – A spicy sauce made with lots of red chilies, cinnamon, cumin, and vinegar. (Editor’s note – I love this stuff!)

 

My favorite dishes:

Paneer Makhani – Cheese cooked in a tomato, butter, and cream sauce.

Navratna Korma – Big patties made with nuts, cheese, and an assortment of veggies cooked in a korma cream sauce

Palak Paneer – A mildly flavored dish made with a spinach sauce and cheese.

 

Well, there you have it – Parita’s very own guide to North Indian restaurants and cooking!  Even though this list isn’t all-inclusive, I really hope that it helps you the next time you’re trying to decipher an Indian menu.

 

Thank you so much for reading and thank you, Laura, for allowing me to take over your space for a bit!  If you want to learn more about me and my crazy antics, feel free to stop on by at myinnershakti!

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 Indian food is my favorite (shhhh… don’t tell the Italians).

Do you ever go to Indian restaurants?

Is there a certain part of your town where the “ethnic” restaurants cluster?  In Atlanta it’s Dectaur for Indian (try Bhojanic!) and Buford Highway for Asian and Mexican.

 

A Few of My Favorite Things

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Morning everyone!  Today we are still in the Piedmont region.  Have you ever seen a pomegranate tree before?  This is right outside our Bed & Breakfast.  Oddly, they appear to use them more to decor than for eating.
Lee from In My Tummy is today’s guest-poster.  She’s another Atlanta blogger, and one of the first blogs I started reading.  The Atlanta crew is pretty good about meeting up, and Lee is always game for running a race!
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If you haven’t already, check out her blog.  She tells some hilarious stories and her journey into photography has been awesome to watch!
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Hey Sprint 2 the Table Readers.  My name is Lee and I blog at inmytummy.com.  Like Laura, I live Atlanta and have had the pleasure of meeting her about five or six times.  We’ve run two races together and are participating in a marathon relay in October.  So, with running in mind, I thought I’d give you a list of my favorite running gear.

 

I wasn’t always a runner.I started 6 years ago when I randomly decided to train for a half-marathon with my father.  Fast forward to 2011 where I’m currently training for my 9th half.  In the past six years, I’ve definitely found certain things that I cannot imagine running without and I thought I’d share them with you.
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First up, we have the RoadID shoe pouch. Not only does this have the phone numbers of my husband, mom and dad in case something should happen to me while I’m running, but it also has a handy-dandy pouch that is great for carrying keys, money or even a credit card.  A lot of people ask me if this gets in the way and the answer is no. I can tie my shoes just fine with it and I actually never take it off until I get new shoes.

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Next we have the Spibelt.  This is great if you want to carry something that won’t fit in the shoe pouch, like a phone.  I don’t always run with my phone, but when I’m running alone, especially if I’m not near my house, I do.  The Spibelt looks small but it can fit a phone (I have an iphone) just fine.  It’s great because it doesn’t bounce or ride up.  I’ve usually forget that I’m even wearing it.  (I tend to wear it under my shirt since fanny packs aren’t exactly in fashion right now.  I guess that could change though.)

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You have to drink water when you run long distances and I prefer to drink mine out of myNathan Hand-held water bottle.  It can be a bit awkward to run with a water bottle but this one is really comfortable and has an adjustable strap that you can tighten.  It also has a pocket.  Apparently, I really like to store things when I run.  I’ve heard that running with a water bottle in just one hand makes you run off-kilter, but it doesn’t seem to bother me.  At least not right now..

If I’m running more than 7 miles, I will fuel halfway during the run.  7 miles is just sort of an arbitrary number that I picked once, but it seems to work.  Gu is my fuel of choice. I really only eat the chocolate one.  It tastes like cake frosting.  Honest. I’ve tried some of the fruit flavors before and hated them.  Chocolate Outrage is where it’s at.  What I like best about Gu is that you don’t have to chew it.  I tend to choke when I’m trying to eat some sort of chew while I run.  It’s not pretty.

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And my final tool is how I figure out my runs.  I know that a lot of people use mapmyrun.com which is great, but I actually use gmap-pedometer.com.  It’s pretty bare-bones, letting you plot your routes using google maps, but I like the simplicity and it works for me.

 

So those are some of my favorite things.  Come visit me at inmytummy.com!

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Lee is a much smarter runner than I am – I defintiely needed these tips!
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What are some of your running “must-haves?”
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What’s your favorite long run fuel?  I usually bring a date… as in the fruit…
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Reformed Cardio Junkie

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Today I am in Alba in the Piedmont region.  This region produces my second and third favorite wines – Barbaresco and Nebbiolo.  Oh, and did I mention it’s truffle season here?!

Claire is so sweet to say she gets recipe inspiration from me… I get so much from HER!  She has a knack for coming up with dishes that are healthy while still feeling/tasting decadent.  Check out her Plum Apple Crisp, for instance.  I can’t wait to make it!

She is also recently got married and was a stunning bride! 🙂

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Hello Sprint 2 the Table readers!

My name is Claire and I blog over at Live and Love to Eat.  I’m a full time dietitian, but you might not know that with how much I love to bake and dine at different restaurants!  Laura’s blog is my go-to site for good recipes and workout motivation – who wouldn’t want her biceps?  I’m honored to be guest posting while she is enjoying herself overseas.

 

I used to be a cardio junkie, but I want to share my story about how I learned to love changing up my work out routine.

 

I was never a “runner” – at least not the type of runner who loved the treadmill, lived for a good 10-mile jog, or looked forward to lacing up their sneakers.  I started running on the treadmill during college purely for the calorie burn – I knew I was eating too much unhealthy food as part of my new life style, and wanted to avoid that “freshman 15.”  I never struggled with my weight but knew I could be a few pounds lighter and running in my dorm’s gym seemed to be the easiest way to burn calories.

Once I started running a few times a week, I noticed that it also helped to manage my stress.  I finally experienced the “runners high” that I’d heard my more fit friends talk about, even though I never did more than 2 miles at a time.  When I would come home for the summer I didn’t run very often, and later  found that the elliptical was an “easier” workout, so I did that the majority of the time my junior year.  I took a one credit personal fitness class that taught me a basic strength training routine using the Nautilus equipment, and I fell into a workout rut that didn’t challenge me very much.

 

By the time I was a senior, I was dating a guy who was really in to running – he started it for stress relief as well, but got addicted really quickly. We signed up for the Pittsburgh Great Race – a fantastic 5/10K combination course.  My first 5K was a great experience – I loved the atmosphere, the adrenaline, and the challenge of beating a time that you set in your head (again, not impressive enough to share) – and it made me want to do more races.  I started training for the Pittsburgh Half Marathon, but got a stress fracture from upping my distance too quickly and fell off the running wagon again.

During graduate school and my dietetic internship, I joined a local gym for the first time since I was no longer living on campus.  I fell in love with spin classes, which easily took the place of running as my favorite calorie burning option.  As time passed, my younger brother also started to run regularly – and long distances – so I signed us up for a 5K the day before his birthday in April.  The race was on a chilly morning, and I don’t think I spent enough time warming up – and I got injured (after getting my 5K PR – the back of the photo with the gloves on).

 

Long story short, I tore my perioneal tendon (graphic photos, sorry), had to wear a boot for 3 months, and my physical therapist told me that any distance running in the future would cause a flare up of tendonitis or possible re-injury.  I was months away from my wedding and petrified that I wouldn’t be able to exercise at all – which I needed to maintain my weight to feel comfortable in my wedding dress and to manage the incredible stress that planning a wedding can bring.

I owned Jillian Michaels’ 30 day Shred, which I used for quick strength training and toning at home, but wasn’t even able to do that in the walking boot.  For weeks, all I could do was upper body and ab exercises – on demand workouts and exercisetv.tv became great resources! After the boot came off I was still in a lot of pain, and started looking in to other options.  Spin class was too painful (lots of pressure on the ankle joint) and running was out of the question.  I’d read other blogs where people raved over Bikram / Hot Yoga, so I tried hot yoga and really loved it (even though I was nervous to try it at first).  I also experimented with Pilates with kettle bells, as well as at home strength training with hand weights.

 

I had a strapless wedding dress, so I really concentrated on toning my arms – and loved the way I looked and felt!  It’s great to know that I have a healthier body composition (in terms of muscle to fat ratio) even if the weight on the scale doesn’t change much.  I love feeling powerful and strong, and even appreciate the soreness of a great workout the next day.  And I felt beautiful in my wedding dress.

 

I’m still nowhere close to Laura’s figure ( 😉 ) and not able to run (I tried to make it a block while walking my dog and it was too painful right off the bat), but the injury was a blessing in disguise – I now enjoy strength training several times a week, have tried many new work outs, classes, and DVDs, and feel like my fitness routine is much more well rounded as a whole.  I’m not running marathons or triathlons, but I can appreciate working out for more than the calorie burn, and feel healthier overall.

***

As much as I love a good run, weights are my favorite!

Do you make an effort to balance cardio with strength training?

What move have you found to deliver the best results?

 

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