On My Game!

Hey y'all,
So I am back and I am feeling refreshed. As you may have noticed, I took yesterday off from blogging because, well, I didn't really have anything to say. Not so today though, as I awoke at a decent hour and whipped up a fabulous, classic blogger breakfast for my friend and I. Breakfast ( yields 2 wildly disproportionate servings, mine is on the left):

• 1 cup oats
• 1 banana
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup almond milk
• 1/4 cup egg whites
• 2 tbsp flax meal
• 2 tbsp almond butter

I think y'all all know how to make oats by now, so excuse my laziness in not explaining the process. All I have to say is these were some of the finest oats I have ever cooked! I stirred them over a low heat, so that may have something to do with it, but oy! So creamy!
After an hour of digestion and a long overdue catch-up phone call from the D.C. roomie, I hit the road for some interval training. Since I took it easy yesterday (a yoga class and the elliptical), my legs were feeling oh so fresh and new. Here is the breakdown: 2 minutes running at a moderate pace, 1 minute sprint (or until you feel like vomiting), 1 minute walking x 8 repetitions.
Miles 1: 10:55
Mile 2: 11:09
Mile 3: 10:54
Mile 4: (cool down) 0.41 miles in 7:27
My beast captured my final statistics. I was very pleased with this run. I felt strong and light on my feet, which is refreshing after several days of struggles.

I had a serious reflection du jour while cooling down from my run. For the first time since I arrived home from D.C. I have noticed that I feel more like my old self again. This is obviously because I have fallen back into the active lifestyle I was accustomed to before 8 hours at a desk and too many alcoholic beverages on the weekend. This past semester will always be something I look back on fondly, but man it feels nice to have exercise endorphins again. (The fading alcohol bloat is definitely a plus too!)

For lunch today I was craving fresh vegetables (what else is new?!) but I could not decide how to prepare them. Enter my rainbowish snackplate! It contained fresh broccoli, celery, carrots, red bell peppers, and 3 tbsp of garlic hummus.

I just love all of the vibrant colors. But can we just talk about the hummus for a second? I spend a lot of money on hummus. It is obviously one of my favorite foods so I seem to always be able to justify spending $3 on a baby tub and upward of $6 on a big tub. Anyways, I was at Sam's Club yesterday waiting for a prescription to be filled and I was just wandering around the store when suddenly I found this!!!
Yes, that is a biga$$ tub, but just how big?? Well the biggest I have ever purchased to be sure!
Almost two pounds for only $5.97!! I was elated when I found this, I think some people might have even stared at me just smiling at the tub of hummus. (I am obviously not normal but I'm fine with it). Gah, I just love hummus. I know I am leaving in 4 days for Strasbourg, but I intend to put at least a dent in this jar and leave the rest up to my friend who is just as fond of the chickpea. :)

Oh yea, I also had dessert with lunch because I can! Another chocolate Vitatop with 1/2 tbsp Dark Chocolate Dreams melted on top! Get's me every time!

One last thing. I had coffee with a trainer at my gym who I have known for years yesterday. She ran the Boston Marathon last year and is quite the fitness junkie. I was telling her about my Beast and how I really love it but that it is really not suitable for the gym. She has one as well and agreed. She said that because she is so committed to getting fit that she also owns a Polar heart rate monitor. So after coffee what do you think I did?

Yea, I bought one! It may seem ridiculous to have 2 watches, but I love tracking all of my statistics and watching myself get stronger and healthier! I am committed to this lifestyle and therefore I think of them as investment pieces. Polar meet Garmin, Garmin meet Polar. I have a feeling we are all going to be great friends.

I have already tested the watch out in yoga (talk about not letting go!) last night and it said I burned 173 calories, which seems about accurate considering the postures we did. The real time to shine comes tomorrow morning in my Cardio Sculpt class! (gulp!) I'll let y'all know how it goes!

I'm off to meet one of my friends from high school for a walk around the neighborhood to catch-up. I just love friends that enjoy healthy activities! After that we are going to dinner at my favorite restaurant in LR that I used to work at!

Until tomorrow
~Jenn