workout Archives - Page 23 of 29 - My Healthy, Happier Life

Last night I crawled in bed around 1am. In fact, should that be referred to as last night or this morning? Therefore, when my annoying Blackberry alarm went off this morning I had no desire to wake up. In fact, I felt like this:

The last thing I wanted to do was wake up and head to the gym. But, over the past three years I’ve learned many times that a quick workout is ALWAYS better for me than countless cups of coffee or tea. There is something about getting in that workout and getting the blood flowing that helps me get ready for the day. What about you? Does a workout help you wakeup?
On days when I’m exhausted and dragging, I know that in order to get a truly effective workout I need to have a formal plan to follow and keep me motivated. Sometimes I’ll choose a spin class or other group class at Equinox but this morning I had the perfect workout in mind.
Monday night I was talking with one of my favorite healthy NYC ladies, Fit Chick In the City. Since she is the running goddess that she is and often sports the coveted RED bib of the NYRR, I thought she could help with some treadmill drill ideas. She was more than happy to help and sent me this awesome yet intimidating workout:
Fit Chick In The City’s Speed Workout
1 mile warm-up (easy pace)
1/2 mile at 7.0
1/4 mile recovery pace (probably same as warm-up)
1/2 mile at 7.5
1/4 mile recovery pace
1/2 mile at 7.7
1/4 mile at recovery pace
Cool Down
I altered a bit to look like this to meet my desired mileage and the speeds I thought would be challenging yet feasible. By the end of the 50 minutes I felt like I’d run like the wind through my workout and was a hot sweaty mess!
Ashley’s Speed Workout
1 mile warm-up 6.0
1/2 mile at 7.0
1/2 mile 6.0
1/2 mile at 7.2
1/2 mile 6.0
1/2 mile at 7.5
1/2 mile 6.0
1/4 mile 8.0
Cool Down: 10 minutes 4.0 at 4 incline

This came out to a 9:20 avg pace which is AMAZING for me! I loved this speed workout and it didn’t give me any chance of having a monotonous uninspired workout. If I had hopped on the eliptical an caught up on the latest People magazine I know I wouldn’t have put as much energy into the workout. If you’re goal is to break a sweat and challenge yourself I suggest this awesome workout!!

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Good evening from scenic Cincinnati! As you all may remember, my travel schedule this May is absolutely insane! It looks a bit like this:
-Three days in South Bend
-Two days in Cincinnati
-Six days in Las Vegas
Are you traveling at all this month? Do you travel a lot for work? Well, spending 11 days out of town on travel in one month, means that I can’t look at each trip as a time of indulgence and fun. I have to find compromise and ensure that I keep to some sort of healthy schedule and routine.
Last weekend and today I’ve been pleasantly surprised by what each hotel has done to help travelers find a healthy balance. Last weekend I stayed at the Hilton Garden Hotel and was offered an awesome Stay Fit Kit. Their new slogan blends perfectly with healthy living:
When tomorrow’s a big day, get prepared with a great workout.
The kit was in a huge sling bag and included yoga blocks, an 8lb medicine ball, resistance band, 3lb hand weights, and a yoga mat. It also included some great workout cards including pilates moves and resistance training. I was able to enjoy this in room amenity two mornings while Bo was still peacefully snoozing. Have you ever seen a kit like this at a hotel? Did you take advantage of it? Was it free?
My second healthy hotel experience occurred tonight upon my arrival to the Westin. It was 9pm when I finally got settled in my hotel room. I was absolutely starving after a long day of work and 3 hours of travel. Unfortunately those Delta pretzels just don’t cut it! I quickly pulled out the room service menu hoping I could find at least a plain grilled chicken sandwich or simple salad. To my surprise, I was absolutely floored by the thorough menu which promised to

Feed the body, nourish the soul
The All-Day dining menu is six pages and includes superfood menu items. Their superfood menu items are items that contain the following ingredients as a primary ingredient:
Tomatoes, broccoli, onion, oats, soy, garlic, olive oil, yogurt, avocado, spinach, nuts, or salmon
There were 12 different Super Food menu items throughout the menu including appetizers, salads, main dishes, and even dessert items. I went with an appetizer and salad tonight as I didn’t want anything too heavy as it was already late.
Confetti of Field Greens: candied walnuts, beets, goat cheese, apples, and champagne vinaigrette on the side

This salad further reaffirmed my belief that any mixed green salad is improved when mixed with goat cheese and beets! I’ve been on a beet trip lately. What is your favorite salad ingredient?
Pan-Flashed Coastal Crab Cake and Griddled Tofu spicy orange chili sauce and spinach
Blog Pictures 2010 227

This dish was delicious though I wish the crab cakes weren’t quite so heavy. I only ate two of the crab cakes but loved the tofu and spinach. I would like to recreate this dish at home while reducing the sauce.
These two experiences have provided me with a renewed faith in healthy travel. For more healthy travel tips, check out this great article by Health.com.

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So who knew that South Bend was the place to go for amazing Italian restaurants and huge farmer’s markets!

Blog Pictures 2010 163

Friday night six of us crammed into my parent’s rental car for my favorite pizza EVER! (Only my dad would rent a Crown Vic just so he could have both his ENTIRE family in the car the whole trip.) We enjoyed dinner with more than 10 of my family members. It was filled with laughter, memories, and great food. Rocco’s has been a South Bend institution since 1951. My dad and his siblings grew up eating pizza in the corner booth every weekend with their parents and friends. We kept that tradition alive Friday night. The best moment was when three of the siblings walked in together and gave Rocco’s wife and daughter huge hugs and the laughter started. Three of the children, Rusty, Will, and my dad are known for their stories, loud voices, and gift of gab. They kept the stories flowing Friday night. Delicious gooey cheese, chewy crust along the edges, thin crust along the rest of the slice, and only fresh vegetables! Rocco’s doesn’t believe in using any canned goods so you know that their sauce and mushrooms are fresh. Who do you think I favor? My mom or dad? We’ve had better pictures but hey who cares! 🙂 We can’t wait around for only the best pictures.

Saturday morning I had to forego my long run due to the weather. It was 35 degrees and raining. That was not a good combination considering that I didn’t bring a running jacket or long sleeve top! I did my reliable gym workout:

6 miles on the treadmill (not my fastest as the legs felt like LEAD..58 minutes)

25 pushups, 25 lunges, 20 pushups, 20 squats

Ab workout on the ball (obliques, weight ball, center)

In keeping with the walk down memory lane, we headed over to the South Bend Farmers Market Saturday morning. Our trip included tasting rhubarb for the first time both raw and cooked, sampling head cheese, and practicing my photography skills. Blog Pictures 2010 169 The Farmers Market was incorporated in 1924 and is now one of the largest indoor farmer’s markets in the Midwest. There were 96 stalls in addition to some outdoor stalls which included an ice sculptor Blog Pictures 2010 181 (HE USED A CHAINSAW!!) and camel rides. I was amazed by the quality of the South Bend Famers Market and immediately wished I could buy everything in sight.