RUN BKLYN

I’m a two-time half-marathon finisher! I ran the Brooklyn Half this past Saturday, hooray! I will now tell you all the deets, which you may or may not find incredibly boring.

Let’s start with the Brooklyn Half pre-party at Pier 2 near Brooklyn Bridge Park.  I absolutely dreaded going to this ALL DAY Thursday.  It was rainy. It wasn’t exactly warm. I knew at some point I still needed to get in 3-4 miles.  JackRabbit was running to the packet pick-up at 7, but then what was I going to do after work for 2 hours while I waited? Why did I have to go allllll the way to Brooklyn to pick up my packet, gosh darnit?! I was cranky. Luckily, the pre-party was on their A-game and as soon as I emerged from the subway in the faraway land of Brooklyn, there were people with signs directing me all the way to Pier 2 (and I say all the way because it was a TREK!)

Once I got there, my mood improved because runners! Music! Free samples! I started to get in the spirit.  The view was AWESOME! Had it been a nicer night, and had I been there with a group of people, I definitely would have loved to stay, had a drink, eaten some Chickpea and Olive, and enjoyed the music.  

(Alright, fine, I'll get in the spirit! SMILES, ready to run 13 miles!)

Instead, I did a lap by myself, sampled some Nuun (EW, tastes like medicine), got a free ZogSports shirt, picked up my packet, and was on my way back to Manhattan after snapping a few pretty skyline pictures.

Friday night before the race, as I wrote about, I ate atSouen.  I picked out my clothes, packed my bag check bag, and was asleep around 10:30.  My alarm went off at 5:00 (yes, ew is right), I got dressed, stretched, rolled and was out the door by 5:30 to meet my friends at the subway.

(The joys of running races...) 

 

It was SO awesome seeing just how many of us crazy runners were up at 5:30 a.m. making the trek to Brooklyn. 

We got off after about a 45 minute subway ride and started to make our way to security and I ate my nanner.  Security was annoying, because everyone had to take their phones out, take their watches off, etc. but hey, better safe than sorry! The line moved surprisingly fast.  But then it was a HAUL to get to bag check.  We just made it before it closed!

Then it was time for the portapotty lines.  Worst. The corrals were super cramped, I was freezing since I had had to put my jacket in my bag at the bag check, there was no room to stretch, and we had about a half hour to stand around.  

(Having company in the corals DEFINITELY helped!)

Luckily we were able to sneakily make our way up a bunch of corrals, which definitely helped because we were able to cross the start line around 7:55- if we had stayed in our corral it would have been MUCH later.

The first couple of miles through Prospect Park were stressful because we were trying to keep up a quick pace but at the same time, the path was super crowded.  Tiffanie, Rory and I were trying our best to stay together and navigate through the crowds.  Eventually, we got into a groove and I tried to look around a little to enjoy the view.  I had expected far worse hills during the park portion of the race, but really there was only one around mile 5 that was challenging.  It was also around there where the “Uh oh…I’m definitely going to need to stop for the bathroom” thoughts started to creep in.

By mile 6 I was forced to tell Tiffanie and Rory to enjoy the rest of the race, but I was going to need to stop.  I had hoped I would eventually catch back up to them, but it never ended up happening. I went to the bathroom, and mentally prepared to run the rest of the race alone (and without Tiffanie’s Garmin!)

Somehow I missed the mile 7 marker, so the jump from 6 to 8 was a HUGE mental help.  At mile 8 I had my espresso Gu, NOM. Unfortunately, at mile 9 nature called and I had to stop AGAIN! Both times I got to a portapotty I had to wait for someone ahead of me, too.  So frustrating.

Miles 7-13 were flat, wide, straight and pretty boring to be honest.  I had used music from 7-10 but decided that for the last 3 miles I would take the headphones off and enjoy the final 5K.  I wasn’t really pushing to finish at a certain time, and knew I had to come in somewhere around 1:50:00 for my friend. 

(Let's finish this thang!)

Then there was a sign for 800 meters and the street got super filled with people cheering us on so I thought “Oh, this is the final sprint” (Actually, I thought, “What the eff, I don’t know what meters mean!!!”) and started to push it.  Well, 800 meters isn’t THAT short of a distance, folk.  Then there was a sign for 400 meters and next thing I know, I’m on the Coney Island pier with the ocean next to me and sand under my feet (yeah, the boardwalk was sandy and I was super scared someone was going to wipe out!) I sprinted to the finish and bam, second half marathon complete in 1:46:50. Hoorah! And I got my first race medal!

(Yas!)

I got my banana, bagel and powerbar (uhmmm, MINT COOKIE, HECK YES!) and made my way to the baggage pick-up.  I found Tiffanie and Rory (they had finished at 1:46:00, awesome job guys!) and then found out that the truck with my bag in it had been in a car accident and no one knew when it would be able to get there- joy! So Tiffanie and I tanned and stretched and eventually, my bag arrived.

Next, we made our way to the subway to get to the JackRabbit after party so graciously hosted by Alex! On the subway, my stomach started feeling like absolute SHIT and I really thought I was going to throw up.  We got to Alex’s and I ate some delicious eggs with veggies and sausage on an English muffin :) 

(Post-race noms! Thanks Alex!)

Then, Tiffanie started to feel sick! We just couldn’t win! So we decided that since we still had a long journey back to the UES, we should probably leave. So we ate and ran, without even having a beer! Such a shame.  But probably for the best considering it took us 2 hours to get home!

I was so happy for a shower, carrots and hummus and a NAP (in my awesome Brooklyn Half technical shirt that I’m in love with!)

That night, it is really disgusting the amount that I ate (and drank, oops).  I’m a little embarrassed to show this to the world but uh, yeah, check out this quad of food I decided I was entitled to for running 13.1 miles!

(Froyo, guac and chips, pizza, lamb over rice.  Heaven)

Overall, I had a great time running the Brooklyn Half (although had I not had Tiffanie and Rory with me, I probably would NOT be saying! Thanks guys!) It’s so funny how during races, you’re tired, you hurt, you want to stop sometimes, and then when it’s all over you’re like “THAT WAS AWESOME WHEN DO WE DO IT AGAIN?!” I definitely want to run another half sometime in the near future- with a new goal time of 1:45:00 or faster!

Souen: Restaurant Review

On Friday night, I went for a healthy macrobiotic dinner to fuel up for the Brooklyn Half Marathon that I would be running on Saturday morning.

I’ve read a lot about Souen, but didn’t know much about the whole macrobiotic diet.  According to handy dandy Wikipedia, someone who adheres to this type of dieting believes that grains are a staple food, supplemented with vegetables.  They try to avoid processed or refined foods and most animal products.  Meaning that the entire menu at Souen consisted of vegetables, soy products like tofu and tempeh, and seafood. No meat here! Souen is also all organic. They have three different locations in the city (Union Square, Soho and the East Village).

The menu was a little overwhelming, because it’s pretty freaking big! We decided to split an appetizer and chose the sweet potato tempura roll.

When it arrived, we both looked at each other a little confused.  Sweet potato? Why is there nothing orange in this? We’re still not really sure why, but we are sure that this was a waste.  It was super boring.  Oh well!

For dinner, after a lot of back and forth, I finally settled on the tofu squash.  I would have liked to order it with the tempeh instead of tofu, but for $3 extra- no thanks!  It was SO delicious though.  It comes with a bowl of brown rice which I mixed into my plate of sautéed tofu, squash, onion, carrots, nappa greens, broccoli and snow peas in an incredibly tasty miso tahini sauce.

I cleaned my plate.

My friend ordered the tempeh parmegiana and I think I may have liked this even more than my squash tofu (although it’s a tough call- both were really great!) 

It was a deep-fried tempeh cutlet with whole wheat-crust cooked in non-tomato marinara sauce, served with yam salad and a side of steamed vegetables. The steamed vegetables and yam salad were both kind of bland, but the tempeh with WHATEVER they made the marinara sauce out of- killer!

The prices here aren’t terrible either, and the portions are large.  There’s no way I needed to eat my entire meal- I easily could have saved some for lunch the next day.  I’m excited to come back here, because I definitely want to try the $10 macro plate (steamed greens, vegetables, brown rice, hijiki seaweed, beans and homemade dressing) and their corn bread with apple butter!

I think it’s incredible when restaurants are so delicious and so dedicated to being healthy and wholesome.  I wish I could convince everyone to eat like this and it makes me sad when I tell people about amazing meals I’ve  have and they automatically tune me out when I say it was a vegetarian or vegan or macrobiotic restaurant.  That tempeh parmegiana was just as delicious as any piece of chicken parm you can find me.  And the stuffed pepper from V-Note that I had awhile back- easily comparable to a pepper stuffed with chop meat. Give it a try people! I promise, you’ll feel better when you eat like this and your taste buds will still be SO HAPPY! 

(Gluten-free, vegan, macriobiotic- don't let these phrases freak you out! EAT IT)

Strength/Cardio Circuit du Jour

I had mentioned that when I was home, I did a little circuit training in my backyard.  It’s a circuit I’ve done about 3 or 4 times now, so I thought I would share it with you- because I really like it, and because it’s from Jillian Michaels’s so it’s gotta be pretty legit, right?

I found it in Shape magazine, which I usually just read for fun and don’t take too seriously.  But again.  Jillian Michaels.  That woman is for real.

The circuit goes a little something like this (Hit it, I always tried to be the flyest kind on the block…Aaron’s Party anyone?):

First, Strength.
30 seconds of plié squats with a tricep extension (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMojeBbOUn8)
30 seconds of deadlift rows (http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/videos/m/34713615/dead-lift-row.htm)
30 seconds of push-up press (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-eGCkjMtWE)

Do these three exercises in a row with no breaks. Repeat once before moving onto the next section!

Second, Cardio.
30 seconds of sprinting in place
30 seconds of jumping rope

Again, repeat this circuit before moving on to the next. I’ve modified this part and usually do a combination of high knees, butt kicks or jumping jacks instead of running in place!

Lastly, Abs.
30 seconds inchworm (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSp0z7Mp5IU)
30 seconds rotating plank tuck (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1GLCBjqrd8&list=TLsQeOGLQ_qac)

Same thing, do each other these twice.

Congrats, you finished the circuit. Rest for a minute and do it 2 more times!

I like this because you can make it as easy or as hard as you want by upping the weights, etc.  It takes around 21 minutes to complete, and hits all the main muscle groups while keeping your heart rate up with the cardio! Thanks Jillian Michaels!

Catch-Up

Let’s chat. I don’t really have anything specific to talk about, but I haven’t posted in a few days so I’ll ramble and getchya caught up on my oh so exciting life!

My birthday! Was great. I spun in the morning, I ate at Little Beet for lunch, and then, my friends and I celebrated seis de mayo! Mexican food and tequila are two of my favorite things, so this was perfect. 

(Everything I need in life) 

I went to the bar that makes my all-time favorite margarita (Bamboleo’s on Bleecker- go!), ate guac, caught up with friends, and then went to Esperanto in the East Village for Taco Tuesday! $12 for 3 tacos and a drink! Can’t beat that! Speaking of things that can’t be beaten…me, at beer pong that night.

(Thank you friends!!) 

WINNER! I actually won something! I guess the edible flower that Dig Inn posted on their Instagram (arugula, bam!) and I won a free lunch! Soo exciting since I absolutely love them!

Wedding?! The first of my friends from high school is officially married! Craziness! I had SUCH a fun time, she looked absolutely amazing, and everything was perfect- I wouldn’t expect anything less from Gabby! 

(How beautiful is she?!)

(How well do we match?!) 

(How great is this view?!)

I impressed my entire table with my ability to clean my plate. Cocktail hour, salad, entrée, dessert tasting plate, wedding cake, ice cream bar, and candy goody bags. Not to mention the open bar. Heaven.

(Are you surprised I took a picture of the menu? Because you shouldn't be. I ordered the sea bass! Mmmm)

(I LOOOOVED this salad! The lettuce was WRAPPED IN A CUCUMBER SLICE. There was cheese IN MY GRILLED PEAR! There were CASHEWS!)

Longest Run! My furthest distance has gone up once again! 15 miles on Saturday morning! Over the Williamsburg Bridge, through Brooklyn, into Queens and back to Manhattan.  It was a GREAT run despite the blisters I now have.

1^st “Party” at my apartment happened on Saturday night and it was really nice catching up with people I haven’t gotten to hang out with in a long time! Also found my new go-to bar in the area. Also ate a lot of chips and salsa!

Sunday I decided “3 hours of sleep is fine.” Woke up, got my butt to Long Island and surprised my momma.  It was a gorgeous day! After some errands I got to tan on my deck with this beautiful homemade salad:

(Little bit of everythang- spinach, kale, zuchinni, carrots, raisins, strawberries, peppers, beets, feta and balsamic!) 

After falling asleep for a little I did some circuit training in my backyard and went for a walk to my grandparent’s house with my mom. 

(Me and momma's sneakers have the same color scheme!) 

(My grandparent's backyard is soo pretty!)

Then, my dad made us my favorite cocktail (grapefruit juice + gin + St. Germain) shrimp cocktail and an incredible dinner of lamb chops and cous cous with walnuts and asparagus! 

Then we went to my aunt’s house for my little cousin’s birthday and I ate 2 giant pieces of ice cream cake because I just can’t get enough sugar…ever.

The Little Beet: Restaurant Review

Lunch on my birthday was gloriously healthy and delicious, thanks to a friend who refused to let me eat my typical oatmeal with peanut butter, banana and cinnamon (although I doubt I’ll ever get sick of it!) Instead, he took me to a new farm to table lunch spot in midtown Manhattan- say wha?! It’s called The Little Beet, and it’s an adorable little lunch spot on 50^th Street and 7^th Avenue.

Their slogan is “100 Percent Guiltin’ Free.” If you aren’t sold yet- read on.

Much like their counterparts Dig Inn and Hu Kitchen, they offer build your own plates with different protein and side options. Their proteins include chicken, tofu, steak and salmon. The day we went, they had a special that was beef stir fry. All the proteins are pretty standard- not a ton of seasoning, but also not at all bland.

The sides are the real fun part though!

Currently, their sides include quinoa with beets and arugula, charred kale (with chili pepper- my mouth was on fiyah!), charred broccoli, charred okra, charred cauliflower, charred string beans, southwest style millet with avocado, tomatoes and jalapeno, buckwheat soba noodles with cabbage, pickled ginger, scallions, cilantro & mint, roasted sweet potatoes, a Greek salad with chick peas, tomatoes and feta, and lentils with avocado, oranges, pecans, kale and ginger.

The pricing isn’t too terrible- it’s pretty much what I’ve come to expect for places like this. One protein with 1 side is $10/$11, protein with 2 sides is $12/$13, and protein with 3 sides is $14/$15.  You can also just mix and match sides (2 sides for $8, 3 sides for $11 and 4 sides for $14).

But I’m so excited to try other stuff here too! The day we went, their special was a bunch of different sushi rolls that looked incredible! They also have a kale salad, sushi salad, Chinese cabbage salad, and Little Beet salad that you can either get alone, or add a protein. They also have soup specials every day and a juice bar!

But enough about all the delicious things I want to eat there- what did I actually try?  Well, I went with tofu and 2 sides- the charred kale and the charred okra.

(Simple and satisfying) 

The tofu, as I said before, was cooked really well and not overly seasoned.  Just tasty tofu. The charred kale was spicy and flavorful.  The charred okra was DELICIOUS- they gave me a TON and I’m totally obsessed with it now.  How is this not a more utilized vegetable?

My friend got the chicken with sweet potatoes and broccoli. Yum.

There are no bells and whistles here. Just fresh, healthy ingredients prepared with minimal oils and seasonings- just the way food should be eaten! I’ll definitely be back to try more things from their menu! And look how cute it is inside! (Although it was a beautiful day so we opted to eat outside).

(Even the inside looks healthy!) 

It was a wonderful 1^st lunch as a 24 year old! 

A Tough Choice

I am a firm believer in the idea that healthy and nutritious food can be DELICIOUS!

But when my dad and sister got egg sandwiches from my favorite bagel store on Sunday, there was obviously a part of me that wanted the cheesy, carby, salty, fatty combination of bacon, egg and cheese on a doughy egg bagel (ok, I’m making myself cry a little bit right now).

But, instead, I made myself something much healthier- while still being satisfying and delicious.

-1 over easy egg (it’s all about the yolk porn, after all)
-Sliced tomato
-Whole grain toast
-Avocado mash {avocado, feta cheese, a little bit of hummus, olive oil, lemon juice and chili flakes)

(BEAUTIFUL right?) 

It’s all about making smart choices. And moderation is key- I OBVIOUSLY had two giant bites of my sister’s egg sandwich- I’m not a robot after all, and look how delicious that looks!

Oh Right- THAT’S Why I Didn’t Give Up Meat

1^st beef post 40 days of pescetarian-ism were my dad’s meatballs and homemade sauce. I almost passed on bringing them back to the city with me- but THANK GOD I took 2!

Instead of feeling guilty for a big spaghetti and meatball dinner with cheese and garlic bread- I whipped up this personal pizza/flatbread!

-1/2 of a Joseph’s flax flatbread (50 calories)
-Smear on a wedge of Laughing Cow cheese (35 calories)
-Slice up a meatball and pour on the sauce (who the heck knows how many calories this was)
-Bake at 350 until crispy

I took a bite and fell in love with my dad’s incredible cooking ALL over again.  Ate with a side salad and a glass of red wine while watching playoff hockey. Perfection.

The next night I did the same thing but added some spinach, eggplant and peppers because you can never have too many veggies!

(Everything's better with greeeeeeeeen)

Burn Booty Burn

Last week, I vowed to bring back leg day and on Monday on my lunch break, it happened.

As I write this on Tuesday, I’m feeling surprisingly good- which just means the dreaded second day after leg day is sure to be killer! Can’t wait for the struggle of walking both up AND down subway stairs all day!

So what did my first leg day entail? Check it out:

-25 squat jumps
-25 dumbbell squats (15 lb dumbbell in each hand)
-:30 high knees
-30 walking dumbbell lunges (15 lb dumbbell in each hand)
-:30 jumping jacks
-25 sumo squats (35 lb plate)
-10 burpees
-30 dumbbell calf raises on step holding 25 lb dumbbell
-:30 jump rope
-:45 wall sit
-:30 butt kicks
-15 bridges on step/hold :30/15 bridges

REPEAT

25 one leg bridges per leg
25 side leg lifts per leg
25 clamshells per leg

50 step ups per leg holding 12.5 lb dumbbells in each hand

And later that night, I went for a nice 4 mile run with JackRabbit (took it nice and slow!) Central Park is looking beautiful and springy! Definitely need to bring my phone on next weeks run to snap a few pictures! It's not from Central Park, but here's a pretty picture from the UES for your eyes to enjoy:

Hey, while you’re reading this- leave some song suggestions for my Brooklyn Half playlist in the comments :) 

So far I have Burn (Ellie Goulding), Misery Business (Paramore), Sleazy (Ke$ha) and Stay the Night (ZEDD). 

Run as One 4 Miler

It’s pretty safe to say that I have caught the racing bug, and I’m not entirely sure how.

Someone in my running group offered up their bib to run in the Run As One 4 miler last Sunday, and I jumped at the chance to see if I could break my 7:18 10K pace with the shorter distance.

I went to the NYRR offices on the Upper East Side and picked up my bib and my technical shirt (which I got WAY too excited about!)  I was pumped. 

Central Park was sunny and springy at 7:45 a.m. on Sunday morning. 

(Blue skies, green trees- the best color combination nature can supply!)

But there are many things I do not like about racing. 

I do not like that I stress out the night before, going over everything in my head a thousand times. 

(Perhaps I have a slight case of OCD)

I do not like that despite all my best efforts at going to bed early and getting a good night’s sleep, I’m always too anxious/excited to actually fall asleep at a normal time.

I do not like that when I wake up in the morning, at least this time of year, the race is so early that it’s still FREEZING out.

(Sunny does not necessarily mean warm!!!!)

I do not like that this means I need to wear more clothes than I’d like, which I will need to take off before the race, which means that I need to check a bag.

I do not like the portapotty lines.

I do not like that at the start of the race, it is so.crowded. that I feel like there’s no way I can run at the speed I want to.

I do not like that I am still a total newbie to racing, meaning I fall into the biggest trap of all time- starting out too fast.

For the Run As One, I took the subway and got to Central Park and was absolutely frozen.  I had planned on racing in a tank top and shorts (plus compression sleeves) but then there was no way I was taking my long sleeves off, so I decided I would suck it up and be a sweaty mess by the end of the race. Plus, if I had to, I always could have taken the long sleeves off and held it and been that girl racing in her sports bra (hey, I totally would). 

I ate my banana, used the bathroom, found a friend, got a high five, jogged to my corral, waited, got to the start, and hauled ass for 4 miles.

There were a few people who I kept ending up really close to throughout the race, which motivated me to beat them, because I’m competitive like that. 

The hills of central park kill me.  I don’t know if the term “rolling hills” is supposed to make you feel less apprehensive about them, but they’re not fooling me. I hate hills of all shapes and sizes, rolling or not.

Things I love about races that make up for all of the negative things I listed above:

Crossing the finish line, knowing you gave it your all.

The volunteers along the route who cheer you own and tell you you’re looking great, even though you probably look far from fabulous.

Being surrounded by thousands of people who share the same passion as you.

(Hi other people who love running!) 

Challenging yourself to go faster and further than before.

Free apples and bagels when you finish? Best part.

Feeling like I belong to a community when there’s a group of people from JackRabbit to talk to after the race.

And I’ll admit, you feel kind of badass walking back to your apartment with your race number proudly displayed on your shirt ;)

Alright- can I say one more thing I hate?

WAITING FOR MY RESULTS TO BE POSTED.

I am beyond impatient.

I ended up finishing the Run as One 4 miler with a time of 28:27.  I was shooting for 28, but at least my pace (7:07) was faster than my 10K pace! I finished 75 out of 4,031 female runners which kind of blows my mind a little bit. And in the 20-24 age group, I finished 5^th.

So why do I say that I’ve caught the racing bug? Because I am now running in the Brooklyn Half on May 17. I am SO excited to run another half and hopefully beat my time (if I don’t there will probably be tears). But I am also really nervous because of the pressure I know I’m going to put on myself.

To end, here’s a picture of my post-race sweet potato with cinnamon, almonds, raisins and PEANUT BUTTER. 

Yeah, you’re jealous. 

Burger Bistro and Bareburger in One Night?

This review should be taken with a grain of salt, seeing as my meal was enjoyed after consuming a lot of alcohol.
Burger Bistro: Delicious drunk food.  Legitimately Delicious Food? The jury will get back to you when they’re sober…
Appetizer- Deep fried corn on the cob with chipotle mayo.

“Oh my god, this is deep friend corn, and it is as delicious as I had hoped.  This chipotle mayo is bangin’ but my mouth is kind of on fire. Good thing we ordered this bottle of red wine.” 

“Killed it.” 

Meal- "I don't even remember what kind of meat I got...but I got a fried egg and mozzarella sticks on top..." 

(My friends burger of an unspecified meat and sweet potato fries that I demolished.)

Meal- Tuna steak with Swiss cheese, caramelized onions, Portobello mushroom, lettuce, tomato and a lettuce wrap. 

“Wow, I’m destroying this burger so quickly I don’t even know what it tastes like.  This iceberg lettuce leaf totally isn’t a wrap so I’m going to eat ALL my friend’s sweet potato fries, wrapped in pieces of lettuce, and dipped in ketchup.  It’s like sweet potato fry tacos.  This is totally normal right? Oh wait, I finished my burger without taking any mental notes on it whatsoever.” 

Dessert- “Let’s go down the street to Bareburger and get 1,500 calories worth of dessert because everything sound too great and we can’t make decisions especially after all this wine, which we snuck out of Burger Bistro.” 

Peanut Butter Banana Chocolate Milk Shake
“This is making me angry.  Where the bananas at?” 

(Fat. Asses.) 

Snickerdoodle Sammie 
“Now THIS is what I’m talkin’ about.  510 delicious calories in the form of snickerdoodle cookies with salted caramel ice cream AND caramel dipping sauce.  Remember when I ate like 3 Biggy Iggys a week? Those were the days.  WHOAH this is from Cool Haus? Check that off the bucket list.  I still think Good Batch is the God of ice cream sandwiches.” 

What the Brick?

I went for my first brick workout on Saturday, and it was pretty awesome! But I gotta admit, I didn’t know much about them, so if you’re scratching your head thinking “What the heck is a brick workout?” don’t feel like a silly goose. Keep reading!

“Brick” workouts are generally used by triathletes and is the term used to refer to a workout that “stacks” two different forms of exercise, one after the other, with little to no break in between.  These help triathletes prepare their bodies for the transitioning between running, biking and swimming.  Usually, brick workouts focus on the biking and running portions- and are therefore great for non-triathletes as well thanks to the new popularity of indoor cycling studios! Brick workouts are a great way to switch up your routine, increase your calorie burn, challenge your body, and keep things interesting!

I also found that they’re great at sparking, “Maybe I want to do a triathalon” thoughts…but that could just be me.

Saturday morning I woke up nice and early and my friend and I journeyed down to the David Barton gym at Astor Place (it’s beautiful, even though they ruined my Alumni Weekend last year- long story, which I will recount at the end of this post for those interested because it’s pretty entertaining). Inside David Barton is a new spin studio- Cyc. Cyc had generously partnered up with JackRabbit to let us in on a FREE class for the cycling portion of our brick workout.  Score!

First we did some rolling, cause that’s just the way we roll.  And also because our legs hate us a lot of times.

Next, it was into the studio for a major sweat sesh with “cycologist” Devon Kincaid. Cyc’s studio is big, dark, and awesome.  The bikes are only useable if you’re wearing cycling shoes, so when you ride at Cyc, you’re sure to feel LEGIT.

Cyc is one of those spin studios that isn’t just going to have you climb some hills, do some jumps and sprints and call it a day.  Cyc’s classes are of the “Your arms will burn just as much as your legs by the time you leave here” variety.  During Saturday’s class, we did 5 weighted songs, including ones that focused on biceps, shoulders, triceps and abs. 

I’m still torn on how I feel about these types of spin classes.  As a general rule of thumb, I’m all onboard.  I love the variety, the burn and of course the added calories I’m torching.  But there’s still part of me that likes my “boring” in comparison spin classes at NYSC that are a little more traditional.

That being said, Cyc is such a great experience- between the spinning, the coaching, the weights, and the AMAZING LIGHTING (not to mention great playlists)- I totally wish I could afford to take a class every day (single rides are $25 with packages starting at $120 for 5 rides- they also have student rates for anyone 23 or under or anyone with a valid student ID, so check that out fo sho!).

At the end of a heart-pumping 45 minute ride, it was time to snap a picture and head to the streets for the JackRabbit led running portion of the brick workout!

JackRabbits @ Cyc!

We took a lovely 3 mile run, stretched, high-fived, and were treated to delicious OatWorks smoothies!

All in all, a wonderful, wonderful Saturday morning! (Followed by a wonderful afternoon experiencing my first Phatty Beet slider from Chickpea and Olive at Smorgasburg!)

I definitely recommend trying out a brick workout! I also give two thumbs up to Cyc, JackRabbit and OatWorks….all amazing companies!

*The story about how David Barton ruined my Alumni Weekend- One day, I went to David Barton for a free trial membership (because I am a serial gym free trial-er).  When I signed up, they asked for my ID along with all my paperwork. I had a great workout. I instagrammed their beautiful décor. I sat through their spiel. I prayed that one day I would be able to afford a membership at a gym like this. I went home, I packed, I went to Connecticut for Alumni Weekend.  I went to buy alcohol to adequately pre-game. I didn’t have my ID.  For the LIFE of me, I couldn’t figure out where my ID could possibly be.  I wasn’t missing anything else from my wallet! How was I going to go to Aunchies with the rest of the alumni for a night of drunken dancing? I had my parents send pictures of every form of ID I could think of but when I got to the door of Aunchies, the bouncer wasn’t having it.  He called for the owner, “Mrs. Aunchie”- the biggest, meanest, scariest owner in the world.  She wasn’t having it either- but luckily, she also wasn’t having the person trying to cut the line by hoping over the fence.  As she turned to yell, I raced through the door, and spent the entire night hiding from her (which got a little tricky when I was next in line for the bathroom and she was coming out of the stall…).  About a week later, after I was back in the city, it suddenly dawned on me, out of nowhere, that I had given the David Barton front desk person my ID when I signed up for my free trial! I called, and sure enough, it was there! Didn’t they think I might need that?! They had all of my information from the forms I had filled out! Grrrr. \End. 

Hu Kitchen: Restaurant Review

Hu Kitchen, y u so awesome? Y u tempt me to spend all my money?  Last Tuesday (still playing X-treme catch up here, people) I got post-hockey dinner at this popular healthy eatery in the Union Square area.
While certainly a prime take-away/quick meal to go location, I was surprised at how atmospheric the upstairs sit-down area was.  While there’s no waiter service available, it’s still a nice spot to sit down and enjoy some nutritious nosh. 

(Photo Credit to Iheartinteriors.blogspot.com)

The first floor is split up into a few different areas based on what you’re looking to nom on. 

First, a juice bar with organic juices, smoothies, coffees and teas.  Next, an area I still can’t wait to try- their “mash bar.”  Think bowls of chia pudding with seasonal berries, organic raw grain-free granola and coconut cashew cream.  Choose of their pre-designed combos or create your own!
Towards the back is a fridge with grab and go items and then it’s the prepared hot food section. 
You can choose an entrée (veggie lasagna, meatloaf, rotisserie chicken and daily specials) and then pick your sides from options like caramelized pineapple and cashew cream, organic quinoa and roasted winter squash. 

My friend got the Grandmaster Veg- a grain and dairy free lasagna with eggplant, carrot, green cabbage, cashew, marinara, garlic, chili flakes and olive oil.  For sides, he tried the sweet potatoes and broccoli (sadly, both a little cold).

(It's like a jungle sometimes it makes me wonder how I keep from goin' undah! Grandmaster Flash reference, anyone?) 
  
I decided to go to the bowl station- #winning.  For $10.95 I created a delicious bowl containing: 
-Root Vegetable Mash (Sadly, I think this had some fennel in it because every couple bites I would get a little “ew” bite.) 
-Organic quinoa 
-Roasted Wild Mushrooms 
-Organic Moroccan Chicken (with onion, garlic turmeric, ginger, coriander and cumin- taste budgasm!) 
-Cilantro 

(Alright, she ain't the prettiest but it tasted great!)

The man who helped me was SO nice and patient- not to mention he let me mix and match and go halfsies on both my bowl’s base AND topping.  Thanks for helping an indecisive sister out! 
The bowls also come with a yummy piece of grain-free Hu Bread- mmm sunflower seeds! 
My friend had also gotten a container of coconut cacao kale chips- which I’m here to tell you taste better than they sound!
If you’re anything like me, you may find yourself reading the nutrition labels on EVERYTHING.  What stressed me out a little bit about Hu Kitchen was that they are anti-calorie counting.  But while you won’t find any calories listed for their food, you can rest assured that everything they make is “clean,” healthy and nutritious!
They promote VEGGIES and lots of them, encouraging people to keep it as grain free as possible while embracing good fats like nuts and avocados (heck yes).  You should really check out their website- it’s basically a “how to” guide for great eating practices!
I’ll definitely be returning to Hu Kitchen to “Get Back to Human.” Their story is great and their product is even better!
Hip Hip “Hu-rray!” (See what I did there?) 

Flex Friday!

It’s FLEX FRIDAY. 

This week, I kicked some butt at the gym, actually sticking to my old routine of focusing on a specific muscle group per day. I love my running and spinning, and can be a little bit of a cardio freak, but I really do enjoy strength training just as much! Don’t be afraid to lift heavy ladies!

For those of you wondering how I break it down:
-Back/Bis
-Triceps
-Shoulders
-Abs

And I made a decision this week- it’s time to bring back leg day. I haven’t been doing it because when I’m super sore after leg day, I can’t run or spin and that makes me cranky.  But I know that with marathon training coming up, I’m definitely going to need to strengthen my legs to carry me 26.2 miles! So squats, I’m coming for you! 

Best Tuna Ever, Legit.

I eat a lot of raw tuna. If tuna tartar is on a menu, chances are I’m going to order it. Which is why it’s impressive to say that I can now pinpoint exactly where I had the best tuna I’ve ever eaten. 

Society Café at the Wynn Resort in Las Vegas. Not only was the presentation spot on, the freshness and taste was to die for. 

The Himalayan Salt Seared Tuna, topped with chili threads and pickled onions, is served on a burning hot stone, which does the searing as you watch! The waiter comes and pours a yuzu-soy sauce that sizzles and flavors the tuna amazingly. The crispy rice cake is unnecessary because you’ll just be chowing down on this incredible tuna, with a flavorfully seared outside later and a smooth, raw inside. Killer. 

I would also like to give a shout out to Society Café’s warm, doughy, pretzel bread sticks served with a seedy mustard butter. Incredible. If you’re ever in Vegas, you need to check this place out. I love food, and I love trying new places- but I was definitely ok with my group’s decision to eat here for lunch both day’s we were in town! (Their salad made my list of “Life Changing Salads” too!) 

A Salad Once Again Changes My Life

Hear ye, hear ye- an important announcement! A new salad has come into my life and reached the ranks of “Life Changing.” 

While on a work trip to Las Vegas, I ate this salad twice in two days.  It’s from the Society Café in the Wynn Resort.  

(#wynning)

Check out the ingredients of this Chopped Salad (I opted to swap roasted turkey for grilled shrimp!) 
-Perfectly grilled/blackened shrimp
-Avocado
-Jicama
-Carrots
-Havarti Cheese
-Radish
-Edamame
-Pumpkin Seeds
-Dried Corn 

Honestly, what more could you ask for in a salad? Mayyyybe some sort of fruit would have added a refreshing, sugary pop to the salad, but I have a newfound obsession with jicama, which definitely has a sweetness to it, so really, the salad was perfect. 

Welcome to the club, Society Chopped!

Butcher's Daughter: Restaurant Review

I have been truly awful about updating my blog the past week or so, and I have so much I want to write about! I’m going to start by going wayy back to two Sunday’s ago (as in April 13- unacceptable, I know).
That afternoon I had an amazing brunch that I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to review.

After going back and forth between the 23890 options on my bucket list my friend and I decided to take a trip to The Butcher’s Daughter in Nolita (ok, it was a while ago but I’m guessing it was more so me that made the decision, since I’m the food Nazi and all).

As soon as we got there, I was happy with the choice.  I mean, LOOK at how adorable this place is! Plus they had outdoor seating, and it was a beautiful day. 

And any place that serves me my water in a glass bottle with little tin cups gets automatic points in my book.  Look who was sitting next to us! 

For once, there was no doubt in my mind what meal I would be ordering.  But no trip to a restaurant with me would be complete without some indecision.  At The Butcher’s Daughter, this indecision was caused by the drinks menu. I knew I wasn’t going the boozy brunch route, but was I supposed to know if I should be ordering a simple juice, heritage juice, elixir shot, juice spritzer or smoothie? After consulting with our waitress, we decided we would split a juice (they are NOT cheap at $9 a pop!) Shockingly, we were both drawn to the same one, and settled on the “Honey Bee” – a beautiful orange colored juice, served in a glass bottle, with grapefruit, turmeric root, yuzu, kumquat, Anjou pear, honey and bee pollen! So sweet and refreshing (although I swear, they snuck some ginger in there!) 

As soon as you hear what I ordered, you’ll know why it was an easy decision: Smashed Avocado Eggs Benedict. Um. Yes. 
2 Poached Eggs
Curried Hollandaise Sauce 
Avocado Smashed with Curry, Mustard Seed and Lime
2 HOMEMADE ENGLISH MUFFINS. 
Roasted Potato Hash

The poached eggs created the perfect yolk porn. The homemade English muffin was killer, except for some overly-crispy/burnt parts. I would have liked to taste a little more of this curry they claim is mashed in with the avocados. But overall, some of my favorite things combined for a delicious brunch, which I ate every single bite of. 

My friend ordered the Egg Sandwich Platter which, dare I say, may have had a more delicious flavor combo than the Smashed Avocado Eggs Benedict! Two scrambled eggs, cashew carrot cheese, avocado, kale and tomato jam on toasted 7-grain served with roasted potato hash.  I couldn’t place what exactly made my taste buds smile when I took a bite, but it was either the salty cashew carrot cheese or the unique tomato jam. Either way, it was great. 

Overall, I loved The Butcher’s Daughter. It was a little pricier than I would like, however, the quality and vibe of the place made it worth it. I’m definitely interested in a return trip for dinner…Zucchini pasta with walnut-basil pesto anyone? 

HIIT Me Baby One More Time

After extensive research (OK, after reading a bunch of blogs and posts on bodybuilding.com) I totally buy into the idea that high intensity interval training is a great way to blast calories and fat.  I’m no scientist, but if studies say a 30 minute HIIT session can burn more calories than an hour plodding along on the dreadmill, I’m certainly not going to argue with them!

The beauty of HIIT, at least from what I’ve read, is its ability to boost your metabolism long after you finish your workout, allowing you to continue burning calories all day long. 

Despite knowing all the benefits of HIIT, I will admit that I’m not the best an incorporating it into my weekly routine.  It’s hard! And I also can’t get my head around the fact that I can go to the gym, do 30 minutes of HIIT, and leave.  I don’t have to stay for over an hour? Whaaa?

Anyway, last week I was forced to run on the treadmill (and by forced I mean it was cold and rainy and I was too wimpy to run outside). When I’m running on the treadmill, I get supah bored. So it was the perfect opportunity to make things exciting with a HIIT workout.  My idea of excitement is a little strange, admittedly.  Anyway, here it is!
   

Minutes	Speed
0-5	6
5-6	8
6-7	6
7-8	8.1
8-9	6
9-10	8.2
10-11	6
11-12	8.3
12-13	6
13-14	8.4
14-15	6
15-16	8.5
16-17	6
17-22	7
22-23	6
23-24	8.5
24-25	6
25-26	8.4
26-27	6
27-28	8.3
28-29	6
29-30	8.2
30-31	6
31-32	8.1
32-33	6
33-34	8
34-35	6

Protein Powah

I can eat meat again! Run for your lives chickens, cows, pigs and lambs! 

Actually, I was surprisingly neutral on my feelings of going back to being carnivorous. There were a few times in the middle of my 40 meat free days that I found myself craving a burger, which was weird considering I'm not one to dream about burgers (sushi and tacos- that's the food I'll dream about!) And there was the time I cheated and ate meat to sample FISHTAG's new bar bites.  But laying in bed the night before Easter, I was thinking about what my first meat would be and I almost got grossed out by it for a hot sec! I momentarily considered giving up meat for good and going pescetarian- but let's be real.  There will be a drunken night when all I want is some lamb over rice from a halal cart (drenches in whit sauce, obvs). 

Everyone pesters vegetarians with the same question- "Are you sure you're getting enough protein?" And yes, I'm getting enough protein thank you very much.  I can honestly say that there are proteins that I prefer to chicken, turkey, etc. after this Lenten journey of mine. Where, you ask, do I get my muscle-building protein from? 

(Protein = muscles!)

1. Greek Yogurt
Tis true.  Greek yogurt is surprisingly chock full o' protein.  Like, up to double the amount of protein in regular yogurt.  

In 6 ounces, which is the size of a standard Greek yogurt cup- there's between 15-20 grams of protein- the amount in 2-3 ounces of lean meat.  And guess what? The serving size for a check breast is 3 ounces.  So 1 plain Greek yogurt is pretty  much equivalent to a chicken booby!  And Greek yogurt is SO fun to be creative with.  Actually- light bulb- I definitely need to write an ode to Greek yogurt and its versatility. Aka a blog post with all my crazy Greek yogurt recipes. 

(True Life: Chobani should hire me as a spokesperson)

2. Peanut Butter
As my URL suggests, I am a peanut butter fanatic.  There is not a day that goes by that I don't eat peanut butter (when I gave THAT up for Lent last year, things got ugly). I have a jar of peanut butter at my desk at work. I have about 7 jars of peanut butter in my apartment. Peanut butter is my boyfriend. Peanut butter is also a course of protein- hooray! 

2 tablespoons has around 8 grams of protein.  I put 2 tablespoons of PB2 powdered peanut butter in my oats almost every day and I usually dip some puffins cereal in peanut butter at night.  Another great snack is rice cakes with peanut bytter, apples with peanut butter, carrots with peanut butter and Quest bars topped with peanut butter!  Peanut butter on peanut butter! 

But why you gotta be so high in calories, peanut butter? :( 

(That's why PB2 is so great, check that ish out!) 

3. NUTS
Never met a nut I didn't like.  Some favorites include: almonds, pecans, walnuts and macadamia nuts.  Like peanut butter, it makes me sad that they are high in calories and fat- but it's healthy fat! Right? Right. And yep, you guessed it, PROTEIN!

Almonds are one of the most protein-packed nuts, with 20 grams in a cup of sliced almonds.  But let's be real, unless you want to set yourself back 529 calories- you're not eating an entire cup! But 1 ounce (about 23 whole almonds) is 163 calories, a doable snack containing 6 grams of protein- and it will keep you feeling full thanks to 3.5 grams of dietary fiber! 

Another favorite of mine, pistachios, has equally  impressive stats.  1 ounce of nuts has 6 grams of protein, 162 calories and 2.9 grams of dietary fiber. 

Though all delicious, not all nuts are created equal in the protein department.  You should do your research- this chart is super helpful! Pecans and macadamia nuts, for example, are lower in protein and high in calories (so sad). 

4. Tofu
I'm not going to pretend to be a tofu expert. I'm aware that there are some concerns about soy products and that they are in fact products (i.e. not natural). A lot of the concern comes from the fact that 90% of soybeans grown in the US are genetically modified.  Again, I'm not expert so you may want to check out this article! 

What I do know is that a half cup serving of tofu contains 10.1 grams of protein, is easily paired with about a million different foods, and tastes yummy! I try not to eat an over abundance of soy and soy products, but every once in a awhile a meal centered on tofu (or my new obsession- tempeh) really hits the spot! 

5. Hummus
I LOVE hummus.  I go through a container a week nooo problem! Made with chickpeas (or garbanzo beans, whatever floats your boat), hummus contains around 2.5 grams of protein per 2 tablespoons.  But if you're anything like me there's no way you're eating just 2 measly tablespoons!  I put hummus in my wraps and paninis, on top of omelets, and of course, us it as a dip for carrots, cucumbers, celery, wheat thins, etc. 

6. Egg Whites 
Typically, I opt for liquid egg whites over whole eggs with the yolk. I know there's debate on how many yolks you should eat, how they affect your cholesterol, yadda yadda. Whether you're eating the yolk or just the whites, eggs are a great source of protein, with around 24 grams in a cup of liquid egg whites! 1 egg contains 6 grams.  Whatchya waiting for? Go make a veggie omelet! 

(An excuse to show off my Easter eggs)

7. Quest Bars <3
Eventually, I will dedicate an entire post to these incredibly delicious treats. But for now, just know that each bar contains 20 grams of protein. And you should all have them in your cabinets. 

(If you've had a Quest bar, you'll understand my excitement!) 

8. Seafood
Last but not least, I eat a TON of seafood.  Raw, cooked, seared, shellfish, salmon, tuna- I love it all. And a lot of it is packed with protein. 3.5 ounces of clams has 14 grams of protein. 

(Heck yes my dad just made me clams on the half shell!)

A serving of flounder? 16.7 grams.  3.5 ounces of salmon? 22.5 grams.  It's fabulous. 

Follow Up: For Easter, we had a giant party egg sandwich bagel made. 

I fell in love with sausage all over again and it is confirmed- though I may eat it a lot less now, I'm not parting with meat for good. 

(It ain't a party unless there's a party bagel! With sausage.)

Runners Unite!

Tonight, I'm running for Boston. 

And I'm so glad I read about this before heading to my group run! For every mile logged using the Nike+ app today, Nike will donate $1 to the Challenged Athletes Foundation!

So get out there, run, and tag your miles with #strongereveryrun. 

Read more about the campaign here. 

Dig Inn: Restaurant Review

While I was wasn’t impressed with the meal I got at Sun in Bloom last weekend, my faith in healthy, vegetarian, natural food options in New York City was restored on Wednesday when I had my first experience with Dig Inn!

With locations all over the city, Dig Inn Seasonal Market is “real food, real quality.” According to them.  But I’m pretty sure I concur.  They have TONS of options- both for vegetarians and meat eaters.  Salads, soups, shakes, juices, and my favorite- the build your own platters.

I must have sat on the website for like 40 minutes trying to figure out what I wanted, since my friend was going to go and pick it up for us.  You can choose either a big plate or a small plate. You start by picking a meat, tofu, or veggie plate.  Meat options include things like lemon herb chicken, spicy meatballs and braised beef.  Vegetarian options are tofu salad and wild salmon- or you can choose the veggie platter option and you get to pick an extra “side” item for your plate. 

Next is deciding between either a green or a whole grain.  Arugula, baby spinach, brown rice or the “specialty grain.”  And then, the hardest part (as if there weren’t already too many options for someone like myself to consider!) The sides! So many delicious sounding options and you need to choose 3! (Or pay extra for more).  The best part is that they change based on what the current available/in season ingredients are. Some sides on the menu right now are roasted brussels sprouts (let’s be real, they’re on EVERY menu), sautéed kale with purple potato, Tuscan white bean seasoned with ham, beets and cucumber salad, kale & apple salad, etc. 

As you build your plate on their website, they give you all the nutritional information too- which is amazing for someone who is guilty of being a calorie-counter (I know, I know, I need to stop).  Lastly, you can add sauces and spreads (guac is $1.38 extra, grr). 

So enough about the ordering process- let’s talk about what I ate, because I really want to relive it.

First of all, love that they serve it in little brown boxes a la Whole Foods that feel earthy and healthy.  Lame, I know. I got a small plate with the organic tofu salad (tofu, green beans, carrots, and raisins in a wasabi aioli dressing). Uhm. Yum. I think this was my favorite part.  Tofu is usually bland, but this actually tasted like something to me- and it was something great. 

I also opted for the “specialty grain” which was cracked bulgur wheat with celery, carrots and onions tossed with a lemon/apple cider vinaigrette and agave, and seasoned with a Mediterranean spice blend.  That’s a mouthful.  After my bulgur salad from FISHTAG that was kind of a bummer, I was a little hesitant to order this.  It was underneath everything else on my plate, and kind of mixed in with all the other sides, but overall I’m glad it’s the grain I went with instead of just plain old brown rice (I’m not the biggest brown rice fan, because most of my experiences with it are like my Sun in Bloom experiences where it’s bland and boring and I’m left regretting the carbs).

My three sides were all great as well, I really have nothing bad to say.  They were seasoned and tasty and not boring in the least- yet based on Dig Inn’s website, it really is healthy! I got the roasted Brussels sprouts (tossed with fresh lime juice and a touch of maple vinaigrette), the broccoli with roasted garlic and almonds (red pepper flakes and maple vinaigrette) and the roasted carrots and parsnips mixed with dried cranberries in a tangy apple cider vinaigrette.

(I Dig it- HA)

For just $7, I wasn’t left feeling ripped off at all, considering the price of lunch in midtown Manhattan can be pretty insane. Although I will say, I TOTALLY could have eaten more- next time I may go with the large plate. Also throwin’ it out there that my friend had amazing things to say about the spicy meatballs, and I tried his kale & purple potatoes and sweet potatoes and they were great as well!

I think my favorite part about this menu, is that for every ingredient, Dig Inn lets you know the exact farm that it comes from.  It’s kind of incredible that I can know the Brussels sprouts I’m eating come from Bayview Farm in Jamesport, LI (Long Island, represent!)

The one thing I have to say, is that most people seem to agree that this place is usually PACKED at lunch hour and that the employees there are less than friendly- rushing customers and coming off as rude. They should be happy about working at such an awesome place, is what I say!

I will definitely be back for more Dig Inn (if I ever make it through my bucket list…)

With so many different locations, pick-up, delivery and online ordering, you really have no excuse not to try this place! Go! Do it!