Fit ‘n’ Fuel

This has been quite the week for me; back to school, two personal bests for two different training runs, and a couple other things I’m rather proud of that have happened. Let’s start with some fitness shall we?

Fitness

So this has been my week:

Sunday: 15k (just over 9miles) (1hour22min)
Monday:  5k @ easy 6min/k pace
Tuesday: strength (arms/weights) and 1600m swim
Wednesday: 5k @ 5min/k (25min!!! That’s fast for me, but it felt fine)
Thursday: strength/cardio interval “circuit” training
(I love thursdays at the gym, b/c I go at noon and couple really bad weight loss reality shows Last 10 pounds bootcamp and X-weighted are on, totally keeps me there long)
Friday: 6k at 5:30ish pace (really tough my legs were tired from Thursday!)
Saturday: off
Sunday: 16-17k run

At least that’s the plan, we’ll see how it goes.

Fuel

(avocado, hummus + s & p on silverhills bread…hmmmm)

Something I would really like to work on is fueling myself properly. That might sound weird coming from a Food, Nutrition, Health student (and potential dietetics student?) but I definitely haven’t been the epitome of health all the time. This week has been fairly good, up until yesterday, when I definitely indulged my chocolate monster. (blizzards AND mini eggs anyone?)

But mostly I’ve been eating well. Relatively speaking, my eating is good. It’s better then it has been in the past, I’m not trying to diet at all, I just really want to read up on fueling my body to have the best times ever!

Random

Here’s something I’m oddly proud (and sort of shy about too…) of:

http://sh101.ca/ubc.html

Go there, then go to pages 4-5. I am Student Health 101 Campus Correspondent for UBC. it’s unlike anything I’ve ever done before, but I’m totally enjoying it I have to say. And I hope it keeps going.

Well that’s about it for now. I want to go out and get me some running shoes, so I can break them in before the half-marathon.

So I will see you soon!

Prioritizing

Hello everyone!

So glad to see that some of you are running the 1/2 Marathon in May or at least very supportive! Maybe I’ll see you there. Let me know how training is going for you all.

My exciting training news: I went on a 15k run this weekend with a friend of mine, and boy did he push me. My time: 1hour22min. *Gasp* what? lol. I’m still a little sore, but in a good way. I’m going to do a post later this week about my training I think, and share some of my tips. Would you be interested in that? Would you like me to share my training schedule? I love that Caitlyn and Angela share their training schedules, since I find it’s interesting to see what other people do to train.

Alright, today I’m talking about something entirely different though! Let’s just say that being only three days back into school after a two week break has made me think about…

Priorities:

So if you’re like me you probably have a long to do list:

I know! Ridiculous! And I even forgot a few things on there…

The thing is, not all of the stuff on there has to be done today, or even tomorrow or even soon! Some of it is more important then others. And that’s the key. It’s important to make the list smaller by seeing what has to be done, and by when. That way you conquer the most important tasks first.

Now I highlight the important stuff:

Then put them into order of “importance”. I also like to add a possible estimated time to devote to these things:

Looks so much more doable doesn’t it? Obviously there are times when doing this is actually a bigger waste of time then not, but this will actually help me over the next couple days, since most of the high priority things: studying, job search and RURA council stuff is on going and serves more as a reminder then anything…

What do you do to not overwhelm yourself with crazy to-do lists?

How do you “schedule” your life?

Make Me Smile

Go on. I dare you.

There’s been a few happenings lately that have left me feeling kind of blue. To be completely honest, I think half of it is due to the horribleness that is the Vancouver winter. Let’s just say when it’s been a little too grey for a little too long I feel a little too blue.

But in agreement with my 2010 resolutions, and my reflections on said resolutions, I’ve decided to focus on a few things that are making me smile these days.

Sort of random, but this yogurt is delicious. Mostly just this flavour; lemon. I bet there’s a brand that does it better as this one is a little thin and sour, so I’m going to be looking. Does liberte by chance have a lemon meringue?

(Also notice the SUN in the above picture, yesterday was warm and sunny and that definitely made me smile.)

This is more then just a pretty flower, which hey makes me smile even on a grey day.  But it reminds me of my awesome friends, and good roommates here.

Noodle Box. Spice Peanut noodle box. Possibly one of the best Victoria exports. Deliciousness in a box. Not only that, but well, going to the Noodle Box is a trip down memory lane for me, as it was a thing for me and my roommate back in Vic. And also it’s another good night with good friends.

Another thing that makes me happy? Going for a run, which I’m off to do as I type. (Well after I type…)

What has been making you smile lately?

2010 – One Month In

Well it’s just a typical Tuesday night – with one change. Instead of wasting my time watching Biggest Loser, I’m currently watching some sort of Lost Recap. OMG I watched this show the first season which was like eons ago. Unfortunately life prevented me from watching it in later seasons, and any time I’d catch an episode… well I was confused as hell. The show where you’ll be lost…

Anyway… on to today.

So you might have noticed that yesterday was not only a Monday but also a first of a new month: bring on February.  I can’t believe we’re a month into 2010 already… and I got to thinking about my new years resolutions, and how I had no idea if I was working on them or not…. So instead of just forgetting about them I decided to take a little look at how I’m doing.

Get more ENERGY.
Er, definitely not happening. In fact my sleeping pattern is really crazy right now, it’s not good. I’m tired and my muscles aren’t rejuvenating themselves as fast as I would like. Anyone have any good websites/resources about getting sleeping patterns working?

Keep my grades where they are or higher!
Well I think they’re about the same. At least judging from the one mark I’ve gotten back. I’ve decided to make this goal more structured: I want grades of 80% and higher (85% and higher is the ultimate goal actually). Having an actual number to shoot for makes it more probably something will happen.

Be an awesome prez (do some bossing around yo! )
This is going pretty well. We had an awesome event recently, which I credit to my council and everything. Judging your performance as a leader in and situation is really hard. How much is you, and how much is everyone working together? I’d like to think it’s a combined effort by everyone.

Explore my creative side; maybe take a photography class (if I can afford it)
The one goal I can say ACCOMPLISHED! I started a photography class last night, and even though there was a little technical difficulty for the teacher, I think I can say it will be nice to finally do something creative and push that side of me.

Live on a budget (OMG I am so poor right now, or will be when I pay my student fees)
Sweet, this one I can also say I’m accomplishing. I’ve successfully (maybe a few slip ups) kept all my receipts, recorded totals each week and watched what I spent for the entire month of February.

Get my running mileage up to 1/2 marathon distances
This too is a work in progress. I am going to actually sign up for a Half-Marathon I think, to fully motivate and commit myself to a training schedule and pattern. I’ve successfully been running 3-4 days a week.

Swim, bike, and strength train.
So swimming and biking not so much. Swimming’s too far away, and biking… well it’s wet. I’ve been itching to break out the wheels, but it’ll be a couple weeks yet. Strength training has been happening though, I’m happy to say. In fact I’ve been doing enough ab work that I’ve noticed a difference in my torso. I just do a few moves everyday, and I’ve lost about an inch from the smallest and largest part of my waist.

Do yoga
hasn’t been happening at all. :p

Make actual meals (Means cooking once in a while)
I’ve definitely been baking a little more, and cooking more too. I’ve made a goal of baking once a week, as well as cooking a little. I haven’t really made any amazing cooked meals… but well, they’re better then they were.

Embrace life!
This one too is on-going. Some days I’m super stocked on life. Some days I’m down in the dumps, totally unhappy and grumpy… and just a total all around not-fun person. But that’s how it goes. I’m definitely doing better this term at rolling with the punches.

So that’s how my 2010 is going. How are your 2010s going?

Sometimes Smaller is Better

LIke when you’re eating dessert. LOL, who am I kidding?

But when it comes to grocery stores I really love a small store.

Last year this was my main grocery stop. I hated taking the bus to safeway, and well, this wasn’t that much more expensive.

Then Save-On moved in and it’s closer then Safeway, cheaper, newer and prettier, and not much further, so I’ve been going there this school year. But I haven’t had time what with the Fiesta and then midterms and stuff.

So yesterday I hit ‘er up, because I had about an hour and didn’t feel like the trek to Save-On. Plus I’d discovered that Granville Island Produce at the Village, had this:

Extra Big Jar of my new Love Almond Butter (shhhhh don’t tell peanut butter). And since I eat almond (or peanut) butter everyday I wanted a bigger jar, and Save-On definitely didn’t have that.

And then yesterday I discovered they also have this:

YUMMY! This is my favourite “soy sauce”. And it’s low sodium too. I haven’t been able to find it forever! And it’s great on popcorn with nutritional yeast.

Anyway, I bought all these groceries:

It came to 41ish $. That’s not much more expensive really, and considering the almond butter was 11.99$, I mean there’s 12$ worth of it already…

And I enjoyed those veggies with some Bragg’s, Olive oil and balsamic vinegar, roasted for 18min… With a side of Mexican Rice leftover from out Fiesta!

yyyyuuuummmm. It was so good.

Also ate a mango. I have so much trouble peeling/cutting prepping these! Do any of you have some good tips/suggestions?

Alright I’m a gonna try n study. Can’t say it’ll happen.. but the effort will be put forth.

Coco For Local

Happy Hump Day folks!

How have you been?

This week I finished off the last of my pumpkin muffins.

I made some surprisingly delicious Cabbage & Green Bean Soup:

Hmmm, topped with some uncooked firm tofu and some spice chili seeds. Delicious.

This weekend the amazingness that is UBC Rez Life, had a great event:

It was a whole sustainability informational session. It was really interesting and invigorating. There were a good 20 information booths from companies around Vancouver and BC who all work on some aspect of sustainability.

I attended with my friend from Chemical and Biological Engineering (Chebe pronounced Chee – bee). Let’s just say she knows a lot about the science of sustainability and is constantly asking questions that leave the booth attendees with their yaps hanging open in confusion.

For instance one time we attended a completely different sustainability action day and someone was lamenting about shipping oil across the ocean in tankers and the problem for wildlife and how it has to stop, etc. etc.

My Chebe friend goes, “I agree but how are you going to get oil across the ocean otherwise?” It wasn’t a nasty sarcastic question either, she genuinly hopes that someone will have the answer.

It’s all good to say you support sustainability, are all for going green, blah blah blah, but unless you have an alternative to things what good is it?

Now I don’t know a lot about the aspects of sustainability my friend does, but there is one thing that really gets me excited: locality. Everyone knows about carbon footprints, right? Well buying locally (especially with food) is a great way to really reduce your impact on our environment.

I mean it’s all good to buy organic, but if that organic strawberry you’re buying came from New Zealand it’s probably having a bigger impact then buying a local non-organic strawberry.

Anyways, the conference was a great source of resources:

And I even have a little tree growing pod:

Isn’t it cute?

Anyway, I’m going to try and check out some of the websites and resources I got about local stuff and maybe give you guys some heads up (at least for Vancouver!).

For now I must say au revoir as I have a busy afternoon ahead of me!

And Yet More School

Well it’s a going, my new semester that is. Off to a roaring good normal start.

So what have I been eating the last few days?

I’ve started a Green Monster habit. I actually had one every day after christmas, and I”m trying to keep the trend going. I’ve been having them for lunch:

• 1-2 handfuls spinach
• 1 frozen banana
• 1 packet of Vega Whole Food Health Optimizer (Vanilla Chai)

I’ve been trying the Vega flavours, since I’m think of investing in a bigger container of them, and want to make sure I don’t waste my money. I want to up my overall smoothie’s goodness, and since I know I don’t get enough protein (I try, but sometimes I just fail miserably) I’m giving these a whirl. Does anyone have any favorite protein or health supplements for smoothies they’d recommend? I know a lot of the blog world likes amazing grass, but I’ve never tried it.

I’ve been having some toast with syrup (I’m out of honey! ). On a makeshift plate: I already want fewer dishes.

 

And last but not least I bring you my new fav recipe (of my own creation!). It’s not too serious a recipe, since it’s sort of a throw together, meant for one…

Chickpea and Squash Curry

• vegetable oil
• some onion (I used maybe 1/4)
• 1-2 cloves garlic
• 1/2 butternut squash, or other, chopped up small
• some other veggies (Optional) (I used carrots)
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon corriander
• 1/2 teaspoon tumeric
• 1/4 c coconut milk
• 1/2 c water
• 1/2 vegetable bouillon cube
• 1 can chickpeas (drained)

Heat the oil in the pot, add the onion and garlic. Sautee until onion is soft. Add in the squash and other spices. I then added the carrots as well. Sautee for maybe a minute. Add in the liquids. Allow to simmer for a bit. Then take a hand blender, or regular blender and blend. If you want leave some of it out to have a more chunky style curry. Also at this point I had to add more liquid. I added more water, if you want a smoother almost buttery texture add more coconut milk. It probably comes to a cup or more liquid, depending on how thick you want it. Return to stove if using normal blender, and add the chickpeas. Cook till chickpeas are heated, and voila! Chickpea and Squash curry.

This recipe make 1-2.5 servings. I know weird number, but I had a bowl the first night, and a bowl tonight, and there’s a wee bit left.

Alright… I should really go hit the books. Does that seem wrong? it’s only my first week after all! I should be having fun!

Resolutions 2010

So for much of December I was thinking about what my goals would be for the New Year. In true dorkyness, I was excited and anticipated these goals a lot. See, I’m a HUGE goal setter. I’m a list maker, every day I have “goals” I have to accomplish. Some days I finish those lists, most days do not. I set goals all year round. I have some long term goals, and some short term goals going on all the time.

Pretty much all day 2009 I was thinking about how to write down my goals, what to make them. In fact I even wrote down a few, and even had some “SMART” ways of achieving these goals.

Then 2010 came… and well, I suddenly didn’t feel like those goals. Or like committing to them. Am I all goaled out? Could it be? Oh no! It cannot be!

But alas, it isn’t so. I’ve actually sat here tonight and complied a few goals I’d like to achieve this year.

1. Get more ENERGY.
2. Keep my grades where they are or higher!
3. Be an awesome prez (do some bossing around yo! )
4. Explore my creative side; maybe take a photography class (if I can afford it)
5. Live on a budget (OMG I am so poor right now, or will be when I pay my student fees)
6. Get my running mileage up to 1/2 marathon distances
7. Swim, bike, and strength train.
8. Do yoga
9. Make actual meals (Means cooking once in a while)
10. Embrace life!

They’re sort of ordered in importance, though that last one is honestly one of the biggest of them. I want to try going with the flow more, not worrying or stressing as much about those things I cannot change.

But yeah, i feel like the first one, getting more energy will help me to achieve a few of my goals, like grades, the running, and other exercise goals. to do this I’m going to try getting more sleep, drinking less coffee, and eating healthy balanced meals. This past semester my eating has been just…crazy. Or not crazy for most people, but for me it hasn’t felt right. I plan to really try and improve my eating.

So there you have it, a few goals for this New Year.

2009- Reflections

I can’t believe this year is coming to an end! It’s crazy.

I usually take some time to just reflect on what I’ve done this year (ok, this isn’t just regulated to the end of a year for me, but this time of year it’s just more prominent in my thoughts.).

This year has been crazy for me. And if you add in fall 2008 (sometimes I think in terms of “school years”) it’s been super crazy. But let’s just stick with 2009…

What have I done in 2009?

• I was a floor rep for my Council, and then ran and won (due to lack of opposition) for president.
• Went to Arizona for a leadership conference as a result (seriously, so cool…).
• Applied to dietetics, and was rejected (sadly) but they fortunately give second chances.
• Challenged myself and went tree planting for a second time. Learned my limits, physically and mentally weren’t as good as they were my first year planting.
• Started my presidency at my residence in UBC. This has already taught me so much.
• Got sick at least three times this year. Not necissarily something I’ve “done” but relevant to health and balance I think. I even had food poisoning for the first (and last hopefully) time.
• Tried out for a musical. Oh man, was this crazy/fun/insane. It was just a little too far out of my comfort zone. The main problem was people just interested in a, say, chorus roll, had to try out with the people interested in leading rolls. Nerve racking.

There’s been more too, in terms of emotional and social journeys that might be hard to understand for a lot of people. I used to be a shy quiet girl who would watch life from the sidelines, and 2009 has definitely been a year of stopping the wallflower behaviour and really participating in life.

What did I learn as a result?

• I’m so much stronger than I give myself credit for. This is in terms of emotions, and as a leader. I never knew I could make choices and boss people around the way I do.
• If I put my mind to it, I can pretty much do anything. I won’t be the best,  but at least I tried right?
• In the same vein, I’m beginning to learn my boundaries, the line I draw between being too comfortable, and going too far into the wilds of world. If that makes sense. I used to stick so close to comfort zones, now I’m exploring how far I can go.

 

Man this year has been crazy! For me anyway, add in all the little things you never think about every day, and really it’s been quite the year.

I’ll see you all in 2010, with some of my goals/resolutions for 2010!

Happy New Years!

Work It

I’m sad to say that I didn’t pick up anything interesting on Boxing Day. Oh well. But I actually don’t really have the money to be buying anything, so it’s probably better this way.

Yesterday I went skiing snowboarding at Sun Peaks. It was a gorgeous day. Kamloops was well hidden beneath low clouds, but the mountain was up high, above the gray. My parents and I hit the slopes until my legs were begging me to stop. It was great.

I’ve actually remained pretty active this holiday, and since I’m not exhausted from school the workouts get a lot of my energy. I like working out when I’m at home, because it’s usually time for me to get away from everyone. Sounds so evil doesn’t it? But living away from home, I’m not used to having people (who I love dearly) around me 24/7, so it’s nice to just get away from everyone for an hour or a bit.

Workouts I’ve done since being home:

• Running (outside on hills)
• Weird at home workout inspired by Fit Chick in the City
• At the gym: (just an example)
  10min bike
  arms (2 different exercises such as curls, or bench press)
  10min bike
  2 new arm exercises(not the above)
  10min on treadmill
  legs (squats)
  10min on treadmill
  abs (for about 5min or the length of a song)
  stretch
• A couple of 20 min yoga classes from yogadownload.com

A couple of my gifts this Christmas were fitness oriented:

Wintertrax, for running in the snow. Gloves, and a yoga block. yay!

Also, just because, here a couple more of my gifts. The story behind this is, I love eating BIG SALADS. Lots of green, with lots of toppings. yum. yum. But I don’t have any big enough salad bowls at home. So I asked my brother for a nice big salad bowl. He got me one:

And he got me this:

Yep. That’s a dog bowl. We definitely had a good laugh. I guess he went to Homesense, and they just throw everything all over the place in that store, but the bottom definitely says accessories for your pet. Oh well, it’s clean, so it should be good to eat out of, right?

Alright, I’m off to find stuff to do. Can you believe I’m getting bored and want to get back to school???