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  • Gonna #GetAfterIt All Year Long, Friends.

    Gonna #GetAfterIt All Year Long, Friends.

    If we did all the things we are capable of, we would astound ourselves.

    –Thomas Edison

     

    Hey, remember when I posted about green issues all the time? I do. And I still want to, but it’s hard for me to discern what people want to read about. I feel like we’ve hit a wall of “as green as we gonna be” without making the investment in solar panels or an electric car, and that I’ve talked those “little steps” to death. As we hurtle into the Christmas season, I can pick up some slack by sharing some eco-friendly gift ideas, but rounding the corner into 2013 I’m going to have to think through where I want this blog to go. Any input is appreciated 🙂

    Lately, my life mainly revolves around work and my attempts to whip my health into shape. I’m still running; I’ve just started following the training plan for a half marathon. Not that I have a specific half in mind that I’m training toward (although I do have my eye on the Disney World Princess Half), but because it feels easier to have rules and instructions. Week before last, I ran 4.5 miles, and I’m pretty sure that’s the first time in my life I’ve ever done that. This past Sunday I ran five.

    I didn’t want to. My knee has been bugging me— just the one, not both like years past. I did it anyway because it was on my schedule. I got about .18 miles before I really wanted to stop; I felt all gimpy, I wasn’t fully extending my right leg and the stride on my left was weird as it compensated. I told myself I’d do a mile.

    I felt OK after a mile so I figured I’d go 5k.

    At 5k I thought, well, hell, I’m more than halfway there. I’ll go four miles and walk the last mile.

    And at four miles my knee finally relaxed and the last mile was cake.

    I wasn’t watching the time and I thought I took the whole thing pretty slow. I was wrong, apparently. I finished with an overall pace about the same as my 3 mile runs.

     

     

    Is this boring? I’m sorry. It’s thrilling to me, the idea that I went out there and did it anyway. I’m winning the mental game. And the knowledge that sticking with it even when I wanted to stop, loosened that knee up so I could run comfortably? Mind blowing.

    The next day I went to my second swim class.

    The first class was hugely humbling and vaguely humiliating. The instructor has me show her how I would swim “if I could” and afterwards she laughed and said, “Wow. You really have no idea what you’re doing.” Yes, darling. That’s why I’m here, and that’s why I said, “I don’t know how to swim. I’ve never really tried and I don’t particularly like being in the water.”

    It’s exhausting. I’m working muscles that have been lying dormant, my lower back aches as I try to keep my legs up. I feel like I can only remember one thing at a time: kick, stroke, breathe.

    It’s exhilarating. I’ve been afraid my whole life. I’m still afraid, but I’m out there. I’m doing it.

    I’ve been mocked for not knowing how to swim my whole life. Sat on the edge of the pool or waited on the beach while everybody else went off without me. Being excluded doesn’t smart any less as you grow older.

    Soon I’ll know how to swim, and then I’ll work to do better. Faster. Stronger. I’ll never be as good a swimmer as those who have done it all their lives, who don’t even remember learning, but I’ll always be better than I was just two weeks ago.

    Between the five mile run and the swim class my legs were trash Tuesday, so I rested up. Yesterday I tried to get 3 miles in, but my muscles were still way stiff and sore. I hit 1.8 before the sun dipped behind the trees and I called it a day.

    This, too, is a huge step forward. I may not have hit my goal distance, but I put the sneaks on and I tried. I was tired and I needed a break— and I took it, going to bed earlier than usual. HUGE STEP FORWARD. I know the sleep will only help me do better next time.

    I think I’m going to start adding in more yoga to help build up my core for swimming, and to help me stretch and relax those muscles after.

    I want to find something fun to look forward to each week. Tap class, mayhaps? Rock climbing?

    I’m going to keep racing through the cold months for objective feedback on my progress. And I’m totally signing up for a Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving so I can eat with impunity. Self-help magazines be damned, Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday and I’m gonna eat it up.

    I’m taking my vitamins, drinking my protein shakes, eating regularly. It’s dumb that I have to list those as achievements, but they are so I am.

    I feel like my health is something I’m transforming instead of something that just happens, that I have to accept and shape my life around.

    For the first time since I started blogging in 2008, I’m not dreading the winter ahead. The months of being trapped indoors waiting for fair weather to return. I know I’ll keep running through the cold and it will suck. But it will get me outside. It will keep my spirits alive.

    I’m just getting warmed up.

    Do Vitamin C shoelaces help?

     

    RealFlex Fusion TR

     

    They sure do. I never thought I’d be that person who wore neon bright sneakers— in fact I would search high and low for plain black kicks that didn’t draw attention to my giantess feet— but these guys make me feel cheerful. See those “sticky” grey treads? They’re great for quick off the line sprints, for the fast changes in direction on the basketball court (I would often slip in my old Pumas, which admittedly were past their prime, but embarrassing all the same when you’re coaching tween boys), for the machines at the gym. Comfy and flexible and crazy light: when they arrived, I had no idea the package had shoes inside, it was so light.

    They’re Reebok RealFlex Fusion TRs. Check this video on RealFlex technology, it’s pretty neat:

     


    Fun fact: I first wore these shoes to go vote on Election Day, and Instagrammed a photo with the hashtag #BokTheVote. I thought Jeff was going to wriggle out of his skin in embarrassment for me.

    Sweatshirts with thumbholes help too. Grey and black sweatshirts over tank tops are pretty much my standard uniform through the cold months. Most of mine are hand-me-downs from my husband or brother, so they’re big and frumpy. I’ve created my own thumbholes in a lot of them where the sleeve meets the wristband, which is comfy but admittedly looks a little… I don’t know… sloppy. I don’t know what it is that makes thumbholes so satisfying; it’s not like I usually go around marveling at how cold my wrists are. I think I just like the comfort of sleeves that aren’t too short, and it’s nice to have that in a sweatshirt that isn’t also huge and formless.

     

    Reebok Jacket Sweatshirt ThumbholesThumbholes up!

     

    This is the Reebok Play Dry Jacket (but really it’s a sweatshirt, dangit). It has a lot of flexibility and is surprisingly warm for how streamlined it is. You know how I hate when my clothes are too grabby; this is flatteringly form-fitting without me feeling tight in my man-shoulders. It comes in (modern) blue and pink (excuse me, aubergine) too, for those of you who don’t wear grey like it’s your signature color.

     

    man shoulders

     

    So that’s my big secret to getting out the door. Put the gear on. Hear your husband and kids say, “Oh, going running? To the gym?” It makes it about 1000x harder to wuss out.

     

    Want a chance to win some Reebok gear of your own?

     

    I’m co-hosting a Twitter chat (using the @FitFluential handle) with @Reebok TONIGHT at 9pm EST. We’re going to be talking about ways to #getafterit through the holiday season. And FIVE randomly-drawn, super-lucky chatters will win a $100 Reebok gift card to choose some gear that puts a smile on their face, a spring in their step and their ass out the door.

    More details if you need ’em here.

     

    Disclosure: I received the shoes and jacket shown here free of charge for review purposes through my work at FitFluential. All opinions my own.

     

  • MPG: Mondetta Performance Gear Review

    MPG: Mondetta Performance Gear Review

     

    Without passion man is a mere latent force and possibility,
    like the flint which awaits the shock of the iron
    before it can give forth its spark.

    -Henri-Frédéric Amiel

    I’m surrounded by inspiration these days.

    Part of it is through my work with FitFluential— seeing the tweets, blog posts and images of people doing amazing things, whether it’s running marathons and ultrathons, losing weight and changing their lives, surfing, training. I’m amazed by the discipline, the dedication, the enthusiasm and passion.

    Part of it is when I work with companies promoting their products. I love hearing the back stories of how products come into being and helping them to spread the word. I don’t think we really think much about the creativity and bravery and just plain work that goes into that.

    Part of it is the support of my running friends. We are improving together.

     

    photo credit

     

    And if you really want a shot of motivation— take a look at the Mondetta Performance Gear website. Watch the videos of the athletes there. It’s incredible, the poetry of human ability and motion, and this is a company that really seeks to embody that.

    You know that hushed feeling you get watching a ballet, or the acrobats in the Cirque du Soleil, or the gymnasts in the Olympics? When you are completely stunned by the idea that these are people just like you, but they can do such fantastical, beautiful things? Going through the website is like that.

    Their clothing is remarkable. The fabrics are comfortable, sweat wicking, and very well-constructed. They perform so you can; keeping you cool and compressed where needed so you can move freely and give it your all without having to think about your clothes. No worries about popping out or riding up or falling down, and I haven’t a run yet obsessing over the seams. (Oh, seams. How I hate noticing you.)

     

     

    It’s also very sleek and on trend without being trendy, meaning it will still look classic years from now. It doesn’t scream fitness apparel. It hints, I’m on my way to go dance or effortlessly perform a yoga series or run with grace.

    I’m an ungainly ostrich, but in my MPG gear I feel like I’m an athlete. I kind of love that.

     

     

    I wear the pieces they sent me all. the. time.

    They make me aspire to be a better athlete. To elevate “just” running or yoga or pullups until it’s performed with grace and power.

    When you work out with that sort of thinking in mind, you start to really listen to your muscles, become aware of how they work in concert. You can’t help but be in awe of the symphony that is the human body.

    I love this kind of thinking.

    I love that it can be brought on by simply putting on an outfit, when that outfit comes from a company whose purpose is to inspire and embody passion for athletic endeavor.

    MPG, inspired by the smooth, strong movements of performers such as athletes and dancers, celebrates the drive, dedication and perseverance of these phenomenal individuals. MPG applauds their unyielding pursuit of excellence, through sacrifice and discipline, with respect and admiration. The brand’s versatility allows for more than just function; it embodies style and comfort by offering a range of clothing to suit any activity in any environment, at the apex of vision and vigor.

    I’m sorry. That is awesome. It makes me want to buy all my clothes there. Well, there and Anthropologie.

     

    What I’m wearing:

    Eris sports bra: a little tricky to get on; my hair loves to get all tangled up in it. Not a color I ever, ever would have selected for myself, but I love the brightness peeking out from behind my standard uniform of blacks and greys. I chose the size based on chest measurement; my no-boobs meant an XS and I probably should have gone up a size to accommodate my man shoulders. I feel a little like a “fat man in a little coat” but it looks good, I think.

    Pax tank top: I love this. A loose tank is layered over an attached HUGELY comfy sports bra, which has removable padding that is just thick enough to eliminate the “headlights” but not excessive (I usually remove padding because I find it adds too much and I feel like a kid stuffing her training bra). The bottom edge has a criss-cross to it that hides any muffin top action.

    Sita capris skort: 20 kinds of awesome. Every woman who harbors any level of concern over camel toe should own one of these, but it’s also so versatile. I totally wear this everywhere and I imagine other people think I’m on my way to dance class. They probably change their minds when they see me trip over my own ankle, but still, I tend to keep my chin a little higher and my posture a little straighter when I’m sporting it.

    Athena running tight: keeps me warm but not sweaty, compressed without feeling like a stuffed sausage. You would think the seams would get to me, but no. It fits like a glove.

     

     

    Other awesome MPG pieces I’m planning to incorporate into my wardrobe:

     

    MPG: Mondetta Performance Gear

     

     

    Blacks, greys, pops of brights, and complicated straps… pretty much my ideal.

    What websites (or catalogs, hat tip to Anthropologie again) captivate your imagination and bolster your passion?

    What articles of clothing make you feel like you are capable of great things?

     

    You should wear that stuff more.

     

    Disclosure: I received MPG pieces free of charge for review purposes. All opinions, as highfalutin’ as they might be, are my own.

  • Udi’s Treats: for Halloween and Fall Indulgence

    Udi’s Treats: for Halloween and Fall Indulgence

     

    Eat, drink, and be scary.

     

    A few weeks ago I opened a box full of Udi’s gluten-free gloriousness, to be fashioned into treats appropriate for a sweet Halloween.

    I tried to hold them in reserve until closer to the big day, but some Snickerdoodles went missing early on. Someone remembered our last batch of Udi’s and couldn’t help himself.

     

    Udi's french toast

     

    The Cinnamon Raisin Bread was the next to fall— it was just too perfect for french toast with eggs for a quick dinner. (We’ll likely do breakfast for dinner again tonight, but sadly we’re all out of the Udi’s bread!) Udi’s Cinnamon Raisin Bread made for a really good French toast, soaking up a lot of egg without getting soggy, and cooking through very well. I’m not, generally speaking, a huge French toast fan but this was a good blend of sweet and hearty.

    Making up a HUGE tray of apple crisp after a trip to the local pick-your-own, I had the brilliant idea of making up a small chef portion for myself.

    • cut up one large apple; wish I had an apple corer so I could have just taken that out and cooked this in the apple itself for presentation points. Place into glass Pyrex bowl. Seriously, glass Pyrex is the bomb.
    • top with some butter, cut into small pieces
    • sprinkle a tiny bit of sugar and cinnamon over
    • top with crumbled Snickerdoodle and Udi’s vanilla granola

    Soooo easy, and it was ready in about 15 minutes.

     

     

    I had grand plans for the Chocolate Chia Muffin Tops. In the baking frenzy that preceded the arrival of Hurricane Sandy, I was going to use them as the crust for a greek yogurt pumpkin cheesecake and I was pretty jazzed about it as the centerpiece of this post. Although I couldn’t find an expiration date on the box, it seems like we waited too long to use them; there was a bit of fuzzy growth going on. Boooo when it comes to pumpkin cheesecake packed with protein and chia goodness, but yay to Udi’s for using real ingredients and not packing their treats with tons of preservatives. That’ll learn us to wait.

    When Sandy hit, the power flickered, and the kids and I stepped up to perform our sworn duty: eating all the ice cream in the fridge so it wouldn’t melt. We grabbed all sorts of baked goods to stack in parfaits; this one is Cassidy’s.

     

    Udi's parfait

     

    That’s a diced Udi’s Brownie Bite, then vanilla ice cream, then a half a broken-up Snickers ice cream bar, then a crumbled Udi’s Snickerdoodle, then more ice cream, topped with Udi’s Vanilla Granola.

    I KNOW.

    The remaining Brownie Bites were topped with a homemade pumpkin cream cheese icing (cream cheese and GNC Pumpkin Spice Lean Shake with a tiny bit of food coloring). Easy peasy with a bit of protein snuck in.

     

     

    All in all, we still love Udi’s for being supah tasty— even if you’re not adhering to a gluten-free diet.

    I definitely appreciate the way their treats can be substituted into other kid-fave recipe standbys, for when gluten-free friends come to visit. And how easily you could take a package of Snickerdoodles or Brownie Bites and turn them into something festivee for sending into the classroom as a party treat everyone can enjoy.

    What sweet thangs did you make to prep for Hurricane Sandy?

    How about for your trick-or-treat pre-game?

     

     

    Disclosure: I received these Udi’s products free for review and treat making purposes. No other compensation received, and all opinions are my own.