Healthy Chicks

Happy April friends! Hope you’re all off on a great start to your month. On the first of the month, I always head straight over to Susan Miller Astrology, as her monthly horoscope forecasts are always spot on for me. I’m telling you…it’s wild!

I know it’s April Fool’s Day and all, but I’ve got nothin’ but love for you over here on Healthy Chicks today. If you’re suffering from those painful Monday Blues (or are still recovering from a prank-gone-wrong) I’ve got 8 things that should bring a smile to your face!

1. It’s officially flip-flop season: I live in these little gems, and have all colors from black to pink to flower-patterned. Any temp over 50 degrees is flip-flop worthy to me. I wear them to yoga, around the house, grocery shopping and even on lunch breaks. Seriously jeans (or yoga pants), a tee and some cute flops are my spring “thing.”

2. Iced Coffee: I’ve cut waayyyyy back on the caffeine, but nothing beats an iced coffee with a dash of almond or coconut milk. I shall enjoy these on days I want a cool little treat and absolutely can’t wait. While The Boy is currently cutting out coffee as part of a 3-month cleanse, we also like to make our own iced coffee with Equal Exchange organic fair trade coffee. Just brew, cool and refrigerate, without adding extra ice as that will lead to a watery, weak blend. Love Buzz is one of our faves with a delicious, chocolatey zing. (Plus, it’s called Love Buzz!)

3. My FREE 7-Day “Get Happy & Healthy” Wellness Challenge: If you aren’t on the list yet, get on it! The complimentary 7-day challenge begins Monday, April 8th and includes daily email “challenges” to get you back on track with your health. Oh ya, and one lucky challenger will receive a wellness package from me at the end of the week! Think of it as my April gift to you. Read more & sign up here.

4. Flowers are Blooming: How can you not smile at the sight of colorful flowers blooming? Note: This pic was taken by my sister Krista. I totally have no camera skills.

5. These Itty-Bitty Gluten Free Cheesecakes: My aunt made these for yesterday’s Easter feast for a healthier dessert option. The crust was made with nuts, dates and natural sweeteners & she used all natural ingredients for the filling. How beautiful? Remember: everything in moderation, attempt to eat pure & clean and do the best you can do!

6. New Hair: The Boy & I got fresh haircuts courtesy of my lovely mom (perks of being the daughter of a hair salon owner)! While I loved my long hair I didn’t have the time, patience or skills to style it, hence putting it up into a pony tail or messy bun most days. I finally gave my mom the go-ahead and told her to just “Chop it all off!.” And that she did. Are you going to try a new ‘do this spring?

7. Running Weather: Get out there & move! Hate running? Go for a long walk or afternoon stretch. Being outside with nature can be great for both the body and mind. Join me for a run club, river run, or spot me at the Harpoon 5-Miler in May (that is, if our team gets picked). *Fingers Crossed*

8. Upcoming Music Festivals: I’ve got two fabulous music festivals on my radar this Spring: The Sweetlife Festival with performances from Phoenix, Passion Pit and Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and The Boston Calling featuring Of Monsters and Men, Fun and The Shins. Visit the links above for full lineups.

What’s got you grinning from ear to ear lately? P.S. I’d love for you to check out my latest post for Boston Fitness Magazine where I’ll be contributing weekly for my new column “Motivation Monday with Healthy Chicks.”

I heart running. I love how it enables me to let go and simply be. I love how it challenges me yet comforts me at the same time. I love how it makes me sweat unlike no other form of exercise. I love how it empowers me to feel strong, beautiful and sexy (on the inside). And most of all, I love the way it makes me feel (inside and out).

From half marathons to casual strolls on the river, running and I have a very special relationship and have been together through thick and thin. As you can see, I’m pretty darn obsessed with running and all of its hidden benefits (ahem, it’s more than just burning off that piece of cake).

Since the weather finally hit 50-degress in Boston (and the snow started to melt) I figured it was finally time to join in for City Sports Back Bay’s Run Club. Plus, I was even more ecstatic to join as City Sports hooked me up with their sweet CS by City Sports gear, a new women’s line specially designed for both comfort and attraction.

I loved all the options, and find it nice to know you  can wear comfortable, breathable clothes that are good-looking at the same time. Even better, they now offer Extended Sizes so all shapes and sizes can find that perfect fit that makes you  look and feel good.

If you know me, I love pink so I naturally went for this All Sport Tank in Fuchsia. How cute are the little ruffles on the bottom?

[Source: City Sports]

I paired it with the Accelerate Run Full Zip (that I had my eye on at the City Sports Chestnut Hill Grand Opening Party). I loved the pink-on-black pairing, and super-cool thumb holes on the zippy.

I completed my outfit with the Sports Core Run Tights in black. I’m generally really picky about pants, but fell in love with these form-fitting (yet comfortable) “run tights.” They even have a zipper right above the butt for key/cash storage. Huge perk!

Now that I was decked out in my fashionable CS by City Sports gear, I was ready to run! The City Sports Back Bay Run Club starts at 6 p.m. sharp, meeting every Tuesday at City Sports Back Bay. There was such a great crowd, and I was impressed by the number of pumped up runners who attended! Each week, City Sports hosts a sponsor and this week was Merrell so they had shoe demos going on before and after the run.

City Sports brothers and fitness-addicts Ben & Alex Eld were super accommodating, and made everyone feel comfortable! While Alex explained the details of the run (giving us options for 3.5, 4, and 5 mile routes), Ben snapped pics of the group and made us feel at home. (Hopefully you can join in next time Ben!)

In addition, fellow blogger Jess was there, and I even got my friend Jess to join, who is *fingers crossed that we get picked* on my team for the Harpoon Brewery 5-Miler coming up in May.

[Jess's 2 friends, Jess, me & Jess #2!]

[some of the ladies with Alex!]

We couldn’t have picked a more perfect night for running, and once we hit the river I was in my glory! Running on the Charles as the sun goes down is one of my favorite parts about living in the city, and if you haven’t done so yourself I highly suggest you do. It was so nice outside, that I actually tied my zip-up around my waist early on, and simply ran in just a tank!

[off we go!]

I loved running through Beacon Hill, and the Boston Commons, and even heard some city folks pointing us out, saying “It looks like a night for running!” or “They must be part of a run club!” Hearing their praises motivated me to keep moving and finish out strong.

Somehow toward the end I split up from the group and did my own loop, with my friend Jess shortly behind. When I got back to City Sports to find no one there, I was quite confused and one of the staff-members told me to pretend I hit a run club record. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case and I must have cut the route short. (We’re thinking it was about 3.1 though I didn’t have my Garmin to confirm).

Nonetheless, I got my sweat on and had a great workout! Plus, my new outfit totally kept me just warm enough, by giving me the room to move, super important for runners. I HATE when I’m confined into something too-tight (ick!) or too loose (which can lead to chafing and constant pulling up your pants) CS by City Sports solved both of those problems!

[post run chatter]

After the run, we all met inside for water, snacks (one of the runners brought homemade Peanut Butter & Chocolate Rice Crispy Treats) and a raffle hosted by Merrell. I won a water bottle (Yippee)!

No matter what city you live in, I definitely recommend you join for a City Sports Run Club, and if you live in Boston please let me know as I’d love to join you for a run! To learn more about City Sports Run Club Back Bay or CS by City Sports clothing, visit their website. As always, feel free to shoot me an email as I’d be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Note: I was given a complimentary outfit from City Sports to review, but as always all opinions are my own.

This past Saturday, I was invited to celebrate City Sports’ grand opening at their new Chestnut Hill location, which also happens to be City Sports’ 30th Anniversary month. (Happy Birthday City Sports!)

While the party didn’t officially start until 10 a.m., I got there at 9 a.m. for a private media event beforehand. I coincidentally ran into another blogger friend on the way there (the adorable, super-fit Jess from Little Miss Runshine), so we walked to City Sports together. We were shocked upon arriving, as the line was already down the sidewalk! Apparently, some had been standing out in the cold for hours.

After all, the first 100 customers were to receive a City Sports goodie bag filled with giftcards and sweet giveaways from City Sports and Nike. Plus, one lucky duck would find the grand prize in their bag: a free pair of shoes each month for the entire year! (I’d take that over the Golden Ticket any day.) Oh yea, and did I mention former New England Patriot Matt Light would be making a special appearance? I don’t blame these City Sports fanatics one bit for getting up early for the event; heck I’d do the same!

Luckily, we got to “cut” the line so we could take a grand tour of the store, ask any questions we wanted and get to snapping some pics. Everyone at City Sports was so unbelievably friendly, and I never felt so welcome. After a quick intro from PR rep Erin, we were handed over to City Sports’ Digital Marketing Specialist Ben Eld who took us under his wing the rest of the morning. Ben was super knowledgable about the store layout, fitness and products/gear, so I felt lucky to be by his side to ask any lingering questions and learn more about the City Sports culture.  He pointed out some pretty cool features about the Chestnut Hill store including:

• The Women’s CS by City Sports line that now comes in extended sizes, with greater care to an attractive look. I was loving the CS By City Sports Accelerate Full Zip Jacket.

• The many colorful options of Citys Sports tees, ideal for spring activities.

• An indoor track (the first in Boston area and second at any City Sports store) so that runners can test out their shoes before they buy, without mucking them up outdoors. I thought this was one of the best features of all, and a genius idea at that!

• The Women’s Lifestyle section with comfy & casual everyday wear, as well as an updated pant wall and an entire area dedicated for yoga! My recent yogi self swooned with joy! I want. I want. I want.

• Racquets galore! With a special department dedicated to racquet sports, experts will provide demos and string racquets in-store!

• And arguably the most impressive of all: 300+ styles of fabulous footwear. Seriously, whoever won the free shoes for a year is in for a treat!

It was about this time that I fell in love with these super-trendy, PINK Nike Flyknit Lunar 1+ Women’s Running shoes, an Editor’s Runner’s Choice. With adaptive lightweight support, soft cushioning, and incredible breathability, these shoes are a runner’s dream. Specially knit with Nike Flywire cables, they claim to “fit your foot like a sock.” You can watch the video to learn more about the shoe here. Sign me up!

Jess and I also did our fair share of goofing around, like trading spaces with the DJ…

[right photo cred: Jess]

Oh, and stuffing our faces with Pinkberry Strawberry & Mango froyo…

Additional festivities for the morning included a complimentary 5K Nike Fun Run, raffles, meet-and-greet with Matt Light, and refreshments. I also got to meet the guys behind Boston Fitness Magazine, a new magazine dedicated to everything fit & healthy in the city!

As I head out the door, I was handed a super-generous gift bag filled with fitness goodies which I couldn’t be more grateful for.

The bag included:

• CS By City Sports Triumph Run 1/4 Zip in Green
• A bright City Sports tee (that I’ve already worn on a run!)
• A navy City Sports headband
• SNAP Infusion “Supercandy” packets
• Nike Performance cushioned running socks
• A City Sports key chain
• A City Sports giftcard
• A day pass to Sports Club/LA

Big thank you to City Sports for hosting an incredible, memorable event! I left feeling inspired, motivated and excited to  be living in a city with so many like-minded, fit and healthy people. I can’t wait to get my run on with the City Sports Back Bay Run Club, which meets every Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the Back Bay location. Who wants to join me?

Good afternoon ladies! Hope you’re all off to a healthy, happy Thursday. Random question for you: Do you know your ideal sports bra size? If you’re not quite sure how to answer the question, I was right there with you. Plus, apparently 70% of women don’t know their appropriate bra size!

So when I was invited to New Balance’s Bra Fitting for a Cause yesterday evening, I was quite intrigued. To celebrate the launch of their new NBPSYCHE Sports Bra Collection, New Balance hosted an event at their Boylston St. store, offering free bra fittings to attendees. Plus, for every woman who got fitted, they donated $10 to MA’s Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Upon arriving, I was given a ticket with a number to hold my place in line. (It also doubled as a raffle ticket!) As I waited for my “bra consultation,” I sipped on some white wine, nibbled on a couple apps (I really liked the mini crostini with goat cheese and eggplant) and mingled with some of the other ladies.

While waiting (and snapping pics) I also ran into two other lovely bloggers: Elizabeth from On Tap for Today and Tina from Carrots ‘N’ Cake so it was nice to catch up for a little bit before I was rushed off to my fitting.

I must say, New Balance did a great job with making us ladies feel comfortable and well-informed. The woman who did my fitting thoroughly explained the whole process, including why it’s important to know your bra size. Who knew that having that perfect fit can help prevent falling straps, that annoying shoulder-digging, and even chaffing? Being a runner, I was especially intrigued! Plus, all the bras are designed for the active woman, taking into account sweat management, breathability, comfort, convenience, style and class!

After taking my measurements, I was given two custom-fit bras chosen specially for me based on my size. We had some good laughs, since I wasn’t exactly an easy contestant (small boobs & waist but big ribs and broader shoulders), in turn throwing off my measurements. But with a few quick questions and  adjustments, they were able to find my perfect fit.

I loved the feel of the bras: super soft, comfy, and snug to my body but not in a “too tight” way. It felt like they were made for me, something I’ve never experienced with a sports bra. I’m usually the kind of girl that just buys a size small in whatever color or type that’s available and calls it a day! While I liked both of the sports bras I tried on, I was a sucker for the Fabulous Framer II in medium.

The Airy Racer felt great, but since it was a little bit lose in the shoulder area, the woman recommended I try it on again in a 32 B, versus the 34 A I tried on originally. Who knew bra sizes could be so complex? The best part is that the NBPSYCHE line offers 9 different styles, including 2, 3, and 4-way motion control, so that every lady can find “the one.”

Big thank you to New Balance for putting on a fun & informative event. I’ll definitely think twice next time I’m shopping for a new sports bra!

Do you know your sports bra size? Have you ever given it any thought? What’s the #1 thing you look for in a bra, be it comfort, look, feel or something else?

PHOTO TAKEN: Hiking in Costa Rica

WHAT YOU DO FOR WORK: I’m the elementary school librarian at the Casablanca American School in Morocco. I basically get kids excited to read books and learn!

NUMBER ONE PASSION: Traveling. I am so lucky to be living in a country that is exotic AND close to Europe.  My next trip is going to be to Tangier, Morocco, Ceuta, Spain and Gibraltar, UK.

I FEEL MY HEALTHIEST SELF WHEN I AM: Eating tons of veggies and spending some time outside. It’s been really difficult finding a quiet place to relax outside in such a big city, so being out in nature has become a gift.

BUT I AM ALSO A REAL GIRL & SOMETIMES: I have a lazy day in my pajamas with too much coffee and watch New Girl.

TOP THREE KITCHEN STAPLES: Olive Oil, zucchini, kiwi

NUMBER ONE GUILTY PLEASURE: Nutella.  Morocco has so many different and cheap brands of Nutella that it takes a lot of self control not to devour an entire jar.

EXERCISE THAT MAKES YOU SHINE: Running.  I love how a good run clears my head and uplifts my spirit.

FAVORITE COMFORT FOOD: Sweet potato fries (especially the fries from Trident Cafe on Newbury St in Boston).

MESSAGE YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE WITH OTHER HEALTHY CHICKS: Be patient with yourself and with your body. We tend to be our harshest critic on everything that we do and most of the time it’s not true or fair. Taking a step back and giving yourself a break will help you energize, focus and appreciate you for you.

If you’d like to be featured as one of my Healthy Chicks in the Community, or know someone who you want to make blush, email me for more deets. And remember, if you aren’t feeling your healthiest self or are struggling to make positive changes, shoot me an email anytime to schedule your FREE 15-minute info session / sign up for one of my health coaching programs.

As I’ve mentioned before here on Healthy Chicks (and as I’m sure you can tell by the badge on the right), I am a proud FitFluential Ambassador. If you haven’t checked out the FitFluential community before, which was founded by Fitness Rockstar Kelly Olexa, I strongly suggest you do so over here.

While FitFluential is packed with an amazing group of like-minded enthusiasts sharing their passion for wellness every hour on the hour, today I wanted to share with you what “FitFluential” means to me. More specifically, my very own definition of living a “healthy lifestyle.”

Discovering an Exercise Routine that Makes you Shine

[Move100 Campaign; Photo Cred: Move100.org]

Just like there is no Perfect Man for every woman, there is no perfect exercise that works for everyone. In fact, I don’t believe in rules or perfection at all.

Some live for CrossFit and Pilates, while others feel their best by doing yoga and running. Some spin 6 days a week, while others enjoy being one with nature and going for long hikes with loved ones.

The point is, it’s not going to work for you unless you enjoy it. Find the exercises that make you shine, and run with it. What gives you a natural high? What makes you feel strong and confident about your body? What moves you?

Remember this can change, as we go through phases throughout our lives. Currently, I’m into yoga (for inner peace and serenity), running (for clarity & sweat) and circuit training (for strength). However, I wouldn’t reccomend this routine for everyone as THE. BEST. EVER. There is no best. Do you. This right here is one of the many reasons I love the FitFluential community so much: everyone brings something different to the table.

Also, be sure to take risks by trying new classes and different types of exercise, as you may surprise yourself. This morning I took a hot yoga class with a friend at Prana Power Yoga in Central Square and haven’t felt such a sense of bliss in a long time. In the past year, I’ve completed my THIRD half marathon (I can’t believe I’m saying that), PR’d my 5K by over a minute, and took part in the Move100 Initiative.

Setting intentions for yourself is really helpful in reaching your fitness goals as you are doing it for YOU and no one else. Attempt to let go of competition and comparison and challenge yourself. It’s much more fun that way!

Fueling Your Body With Food That Makes You Feel Your Best

Just like my viewpoint on exercise, I feel the same way about how we eat. One diet doesn’t work for everyone! Remember that. While your best friend may do well on a strictly vegan diet, you may thrive on good-quality, organic grass-fed meats. While some may be able to devour the bread bowl like it’s no tomorrow, others (like myself) may have difficulty digesting gluten in large amounts.

While we’re on this topic, I don’t even like the word diet in the first place. To me, healthy living is a lifestyle and something that’s a part of your life 365 days of the year. So you over-indulged in pizza last night or your weight went up two pounds on the scale. When you’re living a healthy lifestyle, those little “slips” start to not matter as much.

In fact, I am so passionate about helping other women overcome a diet-obsessed lifestyle, that I’ve created a unique wellness program for exactly that. I’ve been in there, that place where the scale rules your life, where you stay in from social outings with friends out of fear of the menu, where food is scary and overwhelming. And let me tell you, there is not fun.

In the past few years, I’ve never been in a happier place with myself and my body. And it all started when I stopped dieting and starting living, when I stopped buying fat-free, cardboard tasting, diet-everthing and started eating real food, when I stopped fearing food and began to fall in love with it.

For me, eating well means filling my plates with clean food, local and organic as much as possible but not ALL THE TIME. It means eating a plant-heavy diet (lotsa greens!) with loads of colorful fruits, good quality grains, fish and occasional organic chicken. It means having fun, and not being afraid to make mistakes, in the kitchen! It means recognizing the foods that make me feel crappy (too much gluten, fried food, etc) and loading up on the foods that make me feel fantastic (sauteed greens, quinoa bowls, green smoothies in the Vitamix, homemade soups, sushi + fish).

And of course, there are nights where I drink one too many glasses of red wine or indulge in a little too many cheese & crackers, but that’s OK. Be realistic about it and ask yourself “How Do I feel?”

Communicating + Collaborating

[random run-in with Cait at Daybreak; photo cred: Cait Plus Ate]

This one’s a biggie! I think making relationships with other people (both similar and different to you) is key. I love how everyone in the FitFluential community is so willing to share, connect and spread the love!

It’s so fun discovering different bloggers, attending unique events and taking part in incredible wellness initiatives.

I find such a joy in creating new friendships (both in person & virtually) with amazing women all over the web including some of my old-time Boston faves like Jess from Eat Drink Breathe Sweat (who actually introduced me to FitFluential) to some of my new faves like Heather from For the Love of Kale and Caitlin from Cait Plus Ate. Honestly, these women are amazing and ever-so-inspiring. This whole community is!

Oh, and communicating &  collaborating goes outside the “blogosphere” too. It’s about connecting and networking with people every day to  ignite that inner passion, and potentially create amazing relationships along the way.

Having a Positive Attitude (Most of the Time)

[enjoying some giggles & QT with the boy]

For me, above anything else, healthy living is about your attitude and mindset. Be confident in who you are, walk your talk, fill your life with positivity, take risks, embrace your body, lend a helping hand when you can, and SMILE. I think it’s important not to take life too seriously and to have a little fun with it.

Be sure to make time for the people you love and surround yourself with positive people who bring out the best in you. Drop the envy & jealousy and replace it with admiration & determination. Be the best you that you can possibly be!

SHARING TIME! What does FitFluential mean to you? For fellow FitFluential Ambassadors, share your thoughts here! For others, how is living a “healthy lifestyle” defined according to you? What do you agree or disagree with? Remember there is no right or wrong answer. That’s the beauty of it all.

This morning, I set my alarm clock for 6:15 a.m. so that I could squeeze in a training run before work/the Big Move.

As usual, I was inclined to hit “snooze” and simply go back to bed. However, I decided to call The Boy for a second opinion. He had been up since 5:30 a.m. to pick up the Uhaul for our move, so I knew he’d pick up.

Our convo went a bit like this:

Me: Hi Jay, I woke up to run but I kind of want to go back to bed. I’m beat. (groggy, manly half asleep voice)

The Boy: Well, you know you won’t want to run tomorrow, especially after moving all day. Right?

Me: Hmm…yea I guess you’re right.

The Boy: Plus, you always feel better after you run. Why don’t you just do it?

That right there was all I needed to hear. He was right. I do always feel better after a run, no matter how I’m feeling at the time. Running makes me feel empowered, energized, alive. It allows me to think, breathe and spend some quality time alone with my thoughts.

After I hung up the phone, I immediately threw on the first running outfit I could find, laced up my sneakers and head out the door for a river run.

I ended up running five miles on the Charles, and didn’t think about the running part of the run at all. Rather, I just let my mind go, and my legs do all the work.

Morale of the story? Next time you’re questioning a workout, ask yourself “How will it make me feel?” That should be just the answer you need.

XoXo,

[family hiking trip in Waterville Valley, NH this past weekend]

As you know, I am an avid fan of running mostly due to it’s hidden benefits none of which include losing weight or getting “skinny.” Sure, these are extra perks that may come along with exercising, but they’re not the main reason I run. Rather, I run for clarity, creative sparks (i.e. coming up with a fabulous idea for a new project), getting outside and de-stressing.

I find that when you exercise for weight loss or to obtain that perfect celebrity bikini body it takes all the fun out. And well, when you take the fun out of something, what’s the point?

Exercise should be exciting, invigorating, motivational and even a little surprising. It should challenge you, make you sweat, make you laugh and even make you cry (in a good way like the tears that came when I ran my first half marathon with thousands of other women).

On the other hand, it should not make you feel bad about yourself, evoke jealousy, create anger and bring out insecurities. If a certain exercise is causing this negative impact, you may want to rethink it; most likely there is something out there for you that’ll better suit your needs and your body.

After all, everyone has their own exercise that does this, just as everyone has a certain diet or skin care regime that works best for you. This is an example of bio-individuality, something I learned through my studies at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and incorporate in my health counseling practice every day. Basically, it means that everyone has their own personalized roadmap to health, and what may be one woman’s medicine could be another’s poison.

My “medicine” cabinet in the exercise realm includes running, hiking, skiing, long walks, core fusion, group fitness classes (particularly spinning, step and kickboxing) and Vinyasa yoga. I do not, however, enjoy Pilates, competitive sports, or extreme bootcamp style classes.

A few years ago, I read in a magazine that all the hot celebrities were doing Pilates to develop long and lean bodies, so I thought “I can do that too. I can become long and lean like them.” Well guess what, I hated it, and haven’t set food in a Pilates studio again. It doesn’t make Pilates “good” or “bad.” It doesn’t make me lame or a quitter. It simply wasn’t right for me, and so I moved on.

If you loathe running and never want to be a runner, fine. If you’d rather kayak or spin the day away than set foot in a yoga studio, have no shame. If something simply isn’t for you, it does not make you weak. In fact, it makes you unique. It makes you who you are.

So go ahead and explore different exercise routines to find what works best for you. What makes you feel good inside, fills you up and gives you the motivation to do it over and over again?

What types of exercise get your heart racing, and most importantly makes you feel your best self?

Happy Friday loves! Hope your weekend is off to a good start so far. Today I took myself on an amazing date to Whole Foods, where I stayed for a good portion of the afternoon. I had a lot of work to get done today, and most of it I could do without the internet, so I decided to unplug from my Mac for a solid 4+ hours. However, I did bring an old-fashioned notebook and my IIN iPod in order to catch up on my latest lectures for nutrition school.

I loved everything I learned about today, from the pros, cons, and logistics of soy products to lessons of healthy eating from cultures years ago, like eating REAL, RAW butter and cheese and consuming all natural meat and fish products (fat and all) for nutrient optimization.

It definitely helped that I was listening to my lectures while eating a delicious, wholesome meal from the Whole Foods’ salad bar. My plate included lentils, spicy chickpeas, raw pumpkin seeds, salmon salad, roasted mushrooms, quinoa and feta among some other samplers. I absolutely love the different variations you can make at Whole Foods, and if I could I would go there every day if the budget allowed. How cool would it be to have a buffet like that in your own apartment? Hey, a girl can dream…

Anyway, since today’s Friday, here’s what made the cut for this week’s Friday Favorites:

1. Kombucha Tea

I used to drink this stuff in college because it was “low calorie” and I was scared of calories/fat/carbs/everything at the time. I hated the taste back then, but would down it anyway. Now that I know of the extreme health benefits of Kombucha, such as better digestion and immune support, I’ve been trying to add it back into my diet lately. I enjoyed some today with lunch and found myself to have great energy and concentration, without an ounce of coffee all day! Even better, I actually really enjoy the flavor now and find it to be super refreshing. I decided to go with one of GT’s newer flavors: Botanic No. 3 with hints of lavender and elderberry.

2. Sweating it Out

[source]

I have to admit; I’ve been totally slacking when it comes to cardio lately. My busy schedule mixed with core fusion classes mixed with walking all around the city has prompted me to put cardio on the back burner. However, yesterday night after an extremely stressful day I decided to go for a good, old-fashioned run on the treadmill. Who knew how exhilarating  just 30 minutes of sweating could be?  I loved the the energy burst I got, the clarity I found, and how amazing it made me feel over all. I’m definitely going to be incorporating some more cardio into my daily lifestyle again. Not too much, but enough. It’s just  running & I work very well together. I’m also thinking about registering for another half marathon coming up if my iffy knees allow for it. I will certainly keep you posted!

3. Love Letters

[source]

The whole Valentine’s Day thing got me thinking about love letters, and how you simply don’t see enough of ‘em this day and age. As I expressed on my blog before, words mean more to me than any gift could ever mean and the card The Boy made me for Valentine’s Day was my favorite part. If I got a love letter sent to me every day, I would be the happiest girl on earth. OK, maybe not every day but you know what I mean. And it doesn’t even have to be from your significant other. It could be a love letter to your best friend, a love letter to yourself, or a handwritten “I love You” note on a napkin for your roommate who’s having a bad week at work. I wrote one for The Boy yesterday ’cause he’s been having a tough week, and it made me feel good knowing it’d make him feel good. Go ahead, write it out. It feels pretty good, now doesn’t it?

Xoxo,

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So if you’ve been reading my blog for the past few weeks, you’ve probably seen me mention that I’m training for a half marathon…that is my first half marathon ever. To this date, the farthest I’ve ran is a 10K back in September. But now I am taking it a step further, and am in the midst of training for the More /Fitness Women’s Half Marathon on April 3 in Central Park, NYC! 

I wasn’t really planning on signing of for a half marathon; it just sorta happened. A friend of mine (thanks Pao!) posted the link on my Facebook wall, and at first I thought “HA, that’s crazy,” and went on with my day. Then I clicked on the link for shits ‘n’ giggles and immediately felt inspired. An all women’s race? Sponsored by More Magazine and Fitness Magazine? Right then and there I knew I had to do it. 

I just dove right in, so I wouldn’t have time to look back. I ripped the band-aide off, entered my credit card number and did it. Sometimes in life, that’s the best way to get things done! I also convinced a few other friends to sign up including my great friend Kiley (who has ran one before), cousin Sara (who is pretty much a running Queen) and my younger sister Krista (yay us!) I am so excited to accomplish my first half surrounded by inspiring, healthy, strong women, particularly my friends and family members I admire so much. 

Now I’m in the midst of my training, and couldn’t feel better – about my body, my motivation, and my focus! Since I’ve started training using Hal Higdon’s Novice program, I’ve seen great improvements in my running, more definition and toning in my body, and greater focus throughout the day – go me! After all, running 15+ miles a week is something I never thought I’d be doing. I used to HATE running…I loathed it. The program also includes cross training, strength training, stretching and rest days, which are oh so important as well, almost juts as important as the running part! 

I’m also paying more attention to what I put in my body, being sure to fuel myself properly with hearty, healthy, wholesome eats to give me energy and strength! Lots of water is also super important, so I’m paying extra attention to chugging the H2O. Gotta quench the thirst.

I couldn’t be more excited for my first half, and am kinda on a permanent runner’s high because of it. I think having goals and focusing on something new is a wonderful thing, in all aspects of life! 

What are your current fitness goals? Have you ever ran a 5K, 10K, half or full marathon? What was your experience like? What got you through the finish line?