When I was recently home for a fake, post-holiday Thanksgiving meal, I was shocked at the degree to which my vegetable-loving mom does not know how to cook vegetables. I am assuming this is a common problem, and one that probably prevents a lot of people from eating the magnitude of veggies they’d like to eat (or should be eating). I am working from home today and multi-tasking, and I had about a thousand pounds of vegetables in the fridge from my farm share. So I’m roasting. This is hands-down the #1 way to cook vegetables. And once you know the general principles, it’s pretty foolproof. The only veggies I prefer sauteed instead of roasted are greens like collards and spinach. Everything else is getting thrown in the oven. So here’s how to do it…
Tag Archives: Clean Eating
December 2015 Challenges: Tea Streak and the Vending Machine Challenge
Even though I didn’t complete No Sugar November, I liked the idea of having a focus for the month. So I’ve chosen two things to focus on in December, in addition to generally training for the Mississippi Blues Marathon.
MSB Marathon T-Minus 8 Weeks: First Long Run and an Update on No Sugar November
Goals for This Past Week:
- Make it to Orangetheory one morning
- Get to the regular gym twice (which I pay for but so rarely use)
- Complete my long run over the weekend
- Continue with No Sugar November, but with no trips the vending machine or pizza place (i.e., bring enough good snacks to work to get me through the day)
So, how did I do?…
MSB Marathon T-Minus 9 Weeks: A Still-Bruised Toe and Continuing No Sugar November
As I mentioned last week, I was ready to start No Sugar November on Sunday. I stocked up on No-Sugar-November compliant snacks such as apples, bananas, Babybel cheeses, avocados, and some olives. But physically, I was hurting from dropping my computer on my toe on Saturday night. (I swear I am not a complete baby. I’ve run through lots of pains. But this toe thing was something else! Even putting on a shoe was tough.) Luckily the pain subsided after a few days.
Short Recap: This week was not what I would call “spectacular” from a fitness and nutrition perspective but I am not really in the mood to beat myself up about it.
Long Recap
Monday: Soulcycle
- NSN Day 2: Halloween candy at every turn in the office. But I resisted! Leftover frittata for lunch and devoured a Shophouse rice bowl for dinner. Feeling mostly in control.
My Name is Athlettuce. And I’m Addicted to Smoothies.
My name is Athlettuce. And I’m addicted to smoothies.
I’ve had a smoothie almost every morning for at least six months, and I’m showing no signs of stopping. I have one on days I run, on days I lift, on days I sleep in. They make me feel so, so good, and like I’m starting my day on the right foot. They are also portable–I can tuck them into the side pocket of my backpack and drink once I get to work or after Orangetheory. I can drink while walking the dog. Or I can enjoy at home on the couch. They are easy to digest, so I don’t need to wait long after drinking one to work out, but they are also refreshing and protein-packed to help with recovery.
I should note that I’m not like those creative folks on Instagram coming up with a variety of colorful smoothie bowls with lines of seeds and nuts and coconut strips on top. No, I’m more of a practical smoothiewoman.
Here’s what I throw in the blender:
MSB Marathon T-Minus 10 Weeks: Hell Week, a Bruised Toe, and the Start of No Sugar November
Only 10 weeks to go until the Mississippi Blues Marathon. This past week was a doozy with Orangetheory Hell Week Monday through Friday (recap here!). Lots and lots of intervals, which were part of my 5K training plan, plus some good strength training. I happily took my rest day on Saturday instead of Sunday.
Unfortunately, on Saturday evening I dropped my laptop squarely on my big toe. Yikes. Based on the amount of pain, I was questioning whether it was broken, but now I’ve decided it is just badly bruised. (I’ll spare you the picture.) As runners, we are often so scared about injuring our knees or dealing with IT band pain and shin splints. But sometimes just having butterfingers is what will thwart you!
Getting Back to “Normal” After a Marathon
After a marathon, it is totally understandable that your body needs a break. And you might find yourself really hungry and supersluggish for days after your race. That’s fine. Sleep in. Eat what your body is asking for.
But sometimes we go beyond that, and for days and even weeks after a race.
At some point, we need to say,
“OK body, time to look ahead, not behind.”
So how do we get back to “normal” after months of training (and eating accordingly), then carb loading, then running 26.2 miles, and then trying to recover from it all?