All recovered and my triathlon reward!

July 8, 2009 by tryingforatri

Helloooo blogland! Two “recovery days” after the triathlon, I got good and sweaty again today. It was glorious!

I was awake at 6am to hit up the campus gym before work. Boy, am I going to be sad when my student ID expires in September! I’ll lose my free gym and pool access

As you probably know, I need to put food in my belly the second I wake up. So I had something small that wouldn’t jostle around while I worked out.

Half a banana and PB. Perfection!

I still wanted to be easy on my muscles today, so I opted for the 20 minutes on the elliptical (5 minutes were spent warming up) and 15 minutes on the rowing machine. I did what I like to call “MIIT” – Medium Intensity Interval Training. The sprints are just below my max ability, and the recovery is just a touch harder than my usual slow recovery pace. So like, a 7-8 out of 10 for the sprints, and 4-5 for the recovery. T’was a good time

I also squeezed in a little core work:

A1 – Cable horizontal woodchop:
2 sets @ 50 lbs x 10

A2 – Back extension:
2 sets @ 8 kg x 10

B1 – Swiss ball crunch:
2 sets @ 8 kg x 15

B2 – Reverse crunch:
2 sets @ bw x 15

Duration: 50 minutes
Calories: 336
Max HR: 171
Avg HR: 133

I thought ahead last night and made a breakfast cookie, knowing I wouldn’t have much time to eat after showering.

1/2 cup rolled oats
2/3 scoop chocolate whey powder
1 tbsp shredded coconut
1 tbsp almond cashew butter
chocolate chips
couple splashes vanilla almond milk

I ate this with some iced coffee, which is quickly becoming my favourite thing for mornings when I’m tight on time. It’s super easy to make in my french press. I just make the coffee the night before, then pop the french press in the fridge! I don’t even need to transfer it to a pitcher or anything. Less dirty dishes = more fun

My work eats may shock you… I had a frozen dinner for lunch!!

First, I had the applesauce and cheesestring as my morning snack. They didn’t do a very good job of holding me over till lunch.

I can’t explain why I randomly bought a Lean Cuisine at the grocery store a couple weeks ago. I always wander the frozen dinner aisles, pick stuff up, get scared by the ingredients/nutritionals, and put them back. I don’t even think I’ve had one since I started my blog! I’ve always been intrigued by the idea of toasty bread out of the microwave, and I guess it just got the better of me.

I guess it also got me because it actually had a meal’s worth of protein (most microwave meals don’t) with some fibre, low sugar and low sodium (again, for a microwave dinner). Although, any gram of trans fat, no matter how small, is in my opinion too much.

I had a picture of the ingredients, but the list is so long, my camera couldn’t capture a clear picture! I’m sure you get the idea anyways

I wish I’d brought my camera to work to take a picture of it. The bread didn’t really “toast”, more like a small brown spot in the middle of the bread. I ate it open faced to make it seem like more food. The taste wasn’t too bad actually, and paired with the carrot sticks it was quite filling. I’m happy I caved and tried it out. Now I don’t have to obsessively pick it up and stare at it every time I’m at the grocery store!!!

Oh yes, and I had the Bumble Bar in the car driving back from a fancy government announcement today. I love these bars. You can check out my review here. I don’t buy them often because they’re over $2 a piece (that’s my limit) but I love the cinnamon/honey flavour and chewy texture of them.

Supper was super simple again, veggie burger and veggies.

I love the lighting in these photos!!! I took a photojournalism class last year, and we learned the best light for taking photos is in the morning and evening. I have to agree! It gives them a lot more depth.

It’s a Sol spicy bean burger with salsa and butternut squash and broccoli covered in almond cashew butter. This is my first time trying almond butter on both butternut squash and broccoli. Ohmy. It was dreamy!!!! I can understand how people do squash/nut butter combos as a dessert dish now!!

The most exciting part of my day was buying my triathlon reward.

New running shoes!!!!!

Eeeee!!! Just what the doctor ordered!

I brought in my old Asics (ones in the header) and the store clerk told me it was definitely time for a new pair. I bought them last October, and the clerk said even with my low weekly mileage, I should still be getting new running shoes at least every six months. He even pointed out that the emergence of my hip pain coincided with that six month mark.

He had me walk around and determined I have “high sturdy arches” and that I’d be good with a neutral shoe. I tried on about five different pairs, and the Saucony ProGrid Ride 2 consistently felt best on my tootsies. I can’t wait to give them a try! Think I’ll do a treadmill run with them first on Friday. That way, if they don’t feel right, I can still bring them back.

Now time for my question of the day, which is very topical with this post What are some of the “non-healthy” foods you really want to try, but always get turned off by the nutritionals? Clearly, the Lean Cuisine paninis were one of mine. I also obsessively pick up this sketchy package of turkey pepperoni every time I’m at the grocery store. I have a feeling I’ll cave on those next…

Posted in Daily Goods, Workouts | Tagged almond butter, breakfast cookie, bumble bar, butternut squash, elliptical, interval training, lean cuisine, rowing machine, Running, running shoes, saucony, veggie burger | 19 Comments

19 Responses

on July 8, 2009 at 8:49 pm Faith Ann

Great reward!!

I alternate between my Asics and Saucony for running. I believe my beloved Asics need to be replaced, however.

I think there are lots of non-healthy foods that I’d like to try but I’m often turned off because you have to buy such a large container of them and I’d rather have the item for a single treat… not something to haunt me in my cupboard/freezer for weeks!
on July 8, 2009 at 8:58 pm tryingforatri

Ha, that’s a great point Faith Ann!! One of the main reasons why I never buy sweets at the store. There are tons of cookies and candies out there I’d love to try – just not a whole bag of them!
on July 8, 2009 at 9:15 pm janetha

ah love the new shoes! cuuute! that lighting on your dinner is glorious, for sure. love the “MIIT” term. haha.. it is fun to say. i don’t know why. i usually get my fill of garbage food when i am at marshall’s.. right now he has a package of fresh baked pumpkin cookies i keep nibbling on. damn him!!
on July 8, 2009 at 9:35 pm Anne K.

That sounds like a great way to make iced coffee! You’re right, that lighting does look beautiful in the veggie burger pic. Love the new shoes! I hope they work well for you. I have Saucony’s too.

Hmm… I can’t really think of un-healthy things I want to try at the moment! I’m trying to go through the grocery store aisles in my head, lol. Probably some kind of full-fat ice cream… or OH, those bagel-fulls things! The ones in the freezer aisle that are like cylinder shaped with cream cheese inside. They prob. don’t taste all that great, but I’m curious! I def. don’t want to buy a whole box, though.
on July 8, 2009 at 10:21 pm Lori

I need to get some new shoes, too! I am jealous!

Non healthy foods that I want to try? I guess it would be all the wonderful ice cream flavors. We have a ton of local ice cream shops around here, and so many flavors like pumpkin pie, oatmeal stout, and Adirondack bear paw. I can’t justify having too much ice cream calorie wise, even if it is homemade locally!

The other thing I want to try are Holey Donuts. Those look like sugar bombs, even though they are lowfat.

And Anne – those bagel things aren’t very good. I tried those. Fresh baked bagels are the way to go instead.
on July 8, 2009 at 10:22 pm burpexcuzme

Oh, I just bought a new pair of Asics today! It’s grey and black and pink, too!

I would really like to try fresh-made french fries…and a real greasy burger. That’s on my self-challenge list soon!
on July 8, 2009 at 10:51 pm april

Bumblebars are the best! I want to try to Chi flavor.

Nonhealthy foods I want to try.. a lot of those nutritional bars like myoplex etc!
on July 8, 2009 at 10:52 pm Ashley

Wooohooo on hitting the gym today! I love the MIIT! Making the ‘rest’ a little harder than usual probably makes it quite a challenging workout

Love the nut butter on squash/broccoli! Such a great combination.

I’ve always wanted to try a creamy tuna pasta lean cuisine I see in the shop but never buy it because 1) I have never in my life bought a frozen meal and I like that record and 2) The ingredient list scares me!

Also, I think I will try some gyms when I’m overseas (as crazy as that may sound!) I don’t want to come back after 3 months and have completely lost all my fitness. I’ve work so hard for it… it would be a shame to start from scratch. Plus, I need to off-set all the food consumption too!

New shoes look great! I think I need to invest in a pair soon too.
on July 8, 2009 at 10:55 pm Brie

Too funny! Remember how we had the exact same Asics? I ordered a new pair tonight too–except I loove them and just ordered them in red instead of green this time! Mine were definitely due for replacement, too. It’s funny how obvious bad shoes become once you’re a regular gymgoer. I can tell exactly when I need a new pair now!
on July 9, 2009 at 12:13 am Lynn (The Actors Diet)

i just tried my first breakfast cookie too! chocolate chips need to be in future batches….
on July 9, 2009 at 1:14 am Chris
on July 9, 2009 at 1:20 am Chris

The above post makes me think…
on July 9, 2009 at 8:47 am insideiamdancing

love the new kicks enjoy!

I actually really like the Lean Cuisine paninis- I ate them pretty frequently when I lived in NY a few years ago de to 1) the protein count and 2) they taste way better than most frozen meals (and are cheaper than ones like Amy’s, etc).

I have stuff on my list to try that freaks me out- not because they are packed with weird ingredients, but because I have no clue what is in them exactly…ie, freshly baked peanut butter cookie from a bakery would be on that list and a slice of NY pizza!
on July 9, 2009 at 8:47 am insideiamdancing

(^ I plan on trying both when I am in the city!)
on July 9, 2009 at 10:27 am Angela

I am very intrigued by the almond butter on veggies! Gotta try it!

As for unhealthy foods…I often cave and buy them! Recent purchases have been dark chocolate champagne truffles, Gingersnap Ben and Jerry’s (OMG so good), and General Foods Dark Mayan Chocolate coffee drink mix. I also frequently buy the all natural Healthy Choice, Kashi, or Lean Cuisine Spa meals. In my defense I feel they are a better choice than McDonald at least!

Love the new shoes!
on July 9, 2009 at 11:26 am spiffykermscom

I actually have a pair of (brand new) saucony rides as well, but not ride2’s. They’re so bouncy and lovely, I’m sure you’ll love them as much as I do!! Mine are green – I would have rathered the red but they didn’t have them in my size anymore…
on July 9, 2009 at 11:29 am ksgoodeats

Glad you’re all recovered and what a great reward!!

That dinner sounds incredible! How could you go wrong with nut butter, veggies, and a veggie burger?! You can’t!
on July 10, 2009 at 5:23 am Lara (Thinspired)

Oooh–new kicks! That is awesome. I’m pretty jealous. Um, actually I’m just thinking that I think I have had my shoes since September, and I’ve just been thinking I’m OK because I don’t run THAT much…but my knee problem started in April….verrrry interesting.
Do you recommend the brand? My past shoes were Brooke’s and I loved them!
on July 10, 2009 at 6:08 pm On Lemons and Peppers | Thinspired

[...] up with Matthew at the local running store to look for some new shoes. After reading about Susan’s new kicks, I realized that it’s past time for me to get new ones, too! They didn’t have the pair I [...]